Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) launched
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, January 30 2019: District Health Society, National Health Mission, Thoubal and National Leprosy Eradication Programme, Thoubal jointly organized the launching function of "Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign 2019� under the aegis of National Health Mission at the Conference Hall of NHM in CMO Office complex, Thoubal Wangmataba today.

The launching programme was attended by councilor ward no 15, Thoubal Municipal Council Ningthoujam Shanti Devi as chief guest, District Family Welfare Officer Thoubal Dr Ksh Memcha Devi as functional president and retired NMS National Leprosy Eradication Programme Thoubal T Shamu Singh as guest of honour.

The programme began with paying floral tributes and respect to the portrait of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi led by chief guest and other attendees while a two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to the late leader.

Delivering the key note speech District Leprosy Officer Thoubal Dr Kh Homeshwar said that the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign was launched nationwide by the Union Government on the occasion of Anti-Leprosy Day, which was observed every year on January 30, the day the Father of the Nation was assassinated in 1948, to honour the selfless service rendered by the Mahatma Gandhi for the persons suffering from Leprosy.

Dr Homeshwar further said that Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae and it usually affects the skin and peripheral nerves adding that the mode of transmission of leprosy is still not known.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease has affected 2,12,000 people globally in 2015, he added and said that India alone reported 1,27,326 new cases accounting for 60% of new cases globally.

India is among the 22 countries considered as having a "high burden for leprosy" along with high transmission, he maintained.

According to the report of State Leprosy Officer, Manipur reported 34 new cases (7 women) till January 30 this year out of the total population of 30,77,066 including the 22 new cases reported till March 2018 for the fiscal year 2018-19, accounting for 0.07% of the new cases, said Dr Homeshwar adding that 6 new cases were reported from Thoubal district till January 30 this year including 3 cases (one women) in 2018-19, accounting for 0.06% of new cases.

Out of these, 13 cases have been discharged so far, he added.

As leprosy can be cured if diagnosed and treated at early stages, Dr Homeshwar said that the thrust of Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) is to promote participation in diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in its early stages and urged the public not to stigmatise and discriminate against those affected by leprosy adding that the campaign was organized to spread awareness about the disease to help in early diagnosis and treatment.

He further appealed all to participate wholeheartedly in the campaign to eradicate the disease at once.

As part of the campaign, simple gifts were distributed to persons affected by leprosy.

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