Leprosy Awareness Campaign Started in Raipur District | 31 Jan 2022

To mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to spread awareness about leprosy, ‘Sparsh Leprosy Public Awareness Fortnight’ was started in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh on January 30, 2022. It will end on February 13.

It is worth noting that on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary (30 January) in India, 'Anti-Leprosy Day' is celebrated to end the stigma and discrimination related to leprosy and to spread awareness about it among the people.
Inaugurating the campaign, Dr. Firoz Khan (Superintendent, Government Leprosy Center, Pandri, Raipur) said that the superstition prevailing in the society sees leprosy as a sin from a previous birth. People who hide the disease for fear of being ostracized from society actually spread the disease.
He said that people need to understand that leprosy is a curable disease and if it is delayed it can lead to disability and deformity in the affected organs. He said that being a bacterial disease, it does not spread through touch, but there is a need for early identification and treatment of the patient.
According to the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 'Gram Sabha' will be organized at the village level to remove fear and misconceptions and create awareness among the villagers about leprosy. On this occasion a fully cured leprosy patient will be honored as a guest.
Publicity vehicles will be used to create awareness about leprosy and its treatment in the villages. A team will drive door-to-door to check the symptoms of leprosy.
It may be noted that the prevalence rate of leprosy in Chhattisgarh is 2.45 per 10,000 population. The target has been set to bring the rate to less than 1 per 10,000 population.