The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new chapter in leprosy control

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

A new chapter in leprosy control

By Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI, DEC. 29. Over a decade after the Delhi State Leprosy Control Programme (DSLCP) began operations to screen, control and eliminate leprosy, it will now start an innovative new chapter from Thursday.

In the first such initiative to be undertaken anywhere in the country, the Capital will lead the way in screening of the homeless for leprosy. The joint project initiated by DSLCP along with various non-government organisations will begin their programme of screening and putting in place continuing medical help and reconstructive surgery for those availing of the scheme.

"The homeless population who don't avail of the public health scheme will be covered under the programme,'' explained the State Leprosy Officer, Directorate of Health Services, Delhi Government, K.S. Baghotia.

"We have a mandate to eliminate leprosy by December 2005. And while screening and treatment of the general population is in full swing and there is awareness about the same, however, the homeless population has remained neglected so far with them now becoming potential threat to the healthy population. It is important to plug this gap under this special programme.''

Catering to the unreached population who are not part of the routine activity under the special project, trainer have been pushed into services after three days of training in detecting the presence of the ailment and then sending the patient to a Delhi Government-run hospital for treatment and reconstructive surgery if required.

"Delhi has a homeless population of one lakh and while the census gives us the data of 52,000 homeless, we are going in with the knowledge that their numbers are much more. Treatment of leprosy takes six to 12 months and often the homeless population fail to carry on with the same. What we are hoping under the project is to educate, identify population about signs, symptoms and treatment of leprosy through imparting training to selected volunteers among them, screen/examine the population to detect leprosy, provide treatment (MDT) to confirmed cases and sustain the vigilance to suspend and refer leprosy cases for treatment,'' explained the Medical Officer of the Netherlands Leprosy Relief, Ajai Walters.

Speaking about the project, District Leprosy Officer (North), G. Kausalya, explained: "North Delhi is the pioneer district to start integrated leprosy services with general health care system. Now working with Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan along with regular support by technical teams, this important part of the leprosy elimination campaign will go a long way in curbing and keeping a check on leprosy in the Capital.''

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