Sparsh Leprosy Elimination Campaign kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 02 2018: Director of Health Services Manipur Dr K Rajo Singh flagged off a rally to launch the implementation of an intensive Sparsh Leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) at Medical Directorate Lamphel today.

Students from Nursing College participated in the rally from the Medical Directorate to Lamphel Supermarket.

The event was grace by Dr K Rajo Singh (Director, Health Services Manipur), N Bandana Devi (State Mission Director, NHM Manipur) and Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang (Addl Director, Health Services Manipur) as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

The dignitary offered floral tributes to the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi as a part of the event as well.

The target of the campaign is to keep the number of leprosy patient below 1 percent per millions population.

World's first leprosy vaccine, developed in India, Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIB) will be administered as prevention for the people living in close contact with those infected by Leprosy.

Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang spoke about the challenges faced by leprosy patients due to the taboos in the society and added that patients usually do not want to share and disclose about their disease.

It has become a neglected disease in the world.

The actual target to eradicate leprosy disease by this year failed and the case of leprosy rose tremendously.

We need to take precaution about the side effect of the MIB leprosy vaccine, Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang added.

On the other hand, N Bandana Devi said that people who suffer from leprosy hesitate to communicate to the public place due to society taboos.

Social stigma and discrimination towards leprosy patient have decreased although it still exists within the society.

So it is hard to reach and give awareness to the patient.

The campaign will enable the patients to live dignified lives.

She then requested the doctors, caregiver and people involved in the leprosy eradication campaign to think out of the box for early detection and awareness of leprosy patient in the State and district level.

A one year action plan commenced from today to eradicate leprosy by 2019 she said, hoping that leprosy will be eradicate completely from the State.

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