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Actor Vikram lends colour to leprosy awareness programme

Staff Reporter

Speakers lay stress on curability and smash certain myths about the disease

SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS: Actor Vikram distributing footwear to persons who were rehabilitated and cured of leprosy, at a function organised at JBAS Women's College on Thursday. — PHOTO: R. RAGU

CHENNAI : Film star Vikram was there for the cause and hundreds of his vocal female admirers were also there because of him and the cause.

As an extension of the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, a `Leprosy Awareness Programme' was conducted at JBAS Women's College here on Thursday, where `Chiyaan' Vikram was the chief guest.

At the programme where facts about the bacterial disease were put forward, Vikram presented footwear to a few patients. He also released posters to promote awareness of the disease.

Speakers reiterated that the disease was now curable. They dismissed the myths that limbs fell off, the disease was transmitted in respiratory droplets and risk groups were people in close contact with leprosy patients.

The incubation period ranged from nine months to 20 years, said a speaker. If the disease was detected in an early stage, disability could be avoided.

Additional Director, Medical Services, Jamesh, said the first signs of leprosy were "hypo pigmented anaesthetic patches'. He said the disease could be tested at primary health centres where the drug therapy was available free of cost.

`Chiyaan' Vikram delighted fans with everything he did; the auditorium broke out in cheers even when he reached out for a glass of water. Everywhere he went, there was a trail of hopeful girls keen to get a photograph or an autograph. The event was organised by the NSS wing of the college, Lions Club of Kolathur and the Chennai District Medical Services Deputy Directorate (Leprosy).

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