Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign launched in East Singhbhum on Gandhi’s death anniversary

ZAMIR AZAD

The District Leprosy Prevention Officer Office of East Singhbhum, Jamshedpur, organized a special program on 30 January 2024, to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to launch the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign.

The program was attended by Mrs. Bari Murmu, President of Zilla Parishad, Mr. Pankaj Sinha, Vice-President of Zilla Parishad, Dr. Ashwini, State Nodal of Tobacco Control Program, Dr. Rajeev Kumar, State Consultant, Dr. Jogendra Prasad, ACMO, Dr. Mrityunjay Dhaudiya, DLO, Dr. Rajiv Lochan Mahato, District Leprosy Consultant, Jawahar Ram Paswan, Vice President of Apal India, and police officers from various police stations of the district.

The guests paid floral tributes to the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and lit the lamp to inaugurate the program. They also honored the leprosy patients and the health workers who are working for their welfare.

Dr. Rajiv Lochan Mahato gave a brief overview of the public welfare schemes being run for leprosy patients in the district. He said that under the leprosy patient search campaign conducted in the entire district, 590 new leprosy patients were confirmed and all were cured. Free MDT was provided and 605 pairs of MCR slippers and 489 self-care kits were distributed. This year, 15 leprosy patients were freed from disability through reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Mrityunjay Dhaudiya said that this year the theme of World Leprosy Prohibition Day is “Eliminating Stigma – Adopting Dignity”. He urged everyone to follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and to perform their duties honestly and sincerely, to achieve his dream of a “leprosy free society”.

Mr. Pankaj Sinha and Mrs. Bari Murmu also expressed their support for the eradication of leprosy and the empowerment of leprosy patients. They said that by early detection and treatment of leprosy, disability can be avoided. They also appealed to the society to treat leprosy patients normally and bring them into the mainstream of society.

The program concluded with an oath to eradicate leprosy, taken by all the participants. The stage was moderated by Moushumi Chatterjee.

The Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign will run from 30 January 2024 to 13 February 2024, to spread awareness about leprosy and its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The campaign will also aim to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by leprosy patients and to promote their social inclusion and human rights.

The program was supported by the Damien Foundation, a non-governmental organization that works for the elimination of leprosy and tuberculosis. The foundation also provided technical and financial assistance for the leprosy patient search campaign and the reconstructive surgery of leprosy patients.