Sparsh Leprosy awareness campaign held
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, March 29 2022:
To achieve complete eradication of leprosy, District Health Society, Kangpokpi under National Leprosy Eradication Programme organised a Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign at the District Headquarters on Tuesday.
The awareness campaign was attended by Kangpokpi chief medical officer Dr Lamkhoneng Haokip, district leprosy officer Dr Eunice Haokip and district programme manager Prabhabati, ASHA workers, and other health workers apart from general public.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Lamkhoneng said that the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) was launched on January 30, 2017, which is 'Anti-Leprosy Day, to increase awareness about various aspects of leprosy and to remove the stigma associated with leprosy.
She continued that observance of the day provides an opportunity to create mass awareness about leprosy, educate people and remove misconceptions.
On the other hand, Dr Eunice Haokip explained that leprosy is a disease that has been present in society since ancient times and it can cause permanent disability in the human body if not detected early for proper treatment while the stigma associated with it makes the disease a public health concern.
She pointed out that the National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) was launched in 1983 and the fo cused and intensified efforts under this programme have led to the elimination level of the disease in the country.
She said that the country's current prevalence rate stands at 0.57/10,000 population but the NLEP aims at complete eradication of the disease.
Dr Eunice also pointed out that Manipur with a prevalence rate of 0.6/10,000 population currently has achieved an elimination level but few cases do exist, while adding that the last case of leprosy in Kangpokpi district was detected in 2017 .