Anti-leprosy day observed at DMCH

Dr Alka Dogra,Professor and Head,Department of Skin,DMCH,said to mark the day Department of Skin,DMCH was organising a free check-up camp for the leprosy patients on Friday. Free investigations and admission (if required) will be done along with free medications. “So let’s come together in spreading awareness about the disease and changing the attitudes of people towards the affected,” he said.

Further,Dr Daljit Singh,Principal,DMCH said that public should be made aware that leprosy was not a hereditary disease; it is a bacterial disease; it is curable; not all leprosy patients are infectious; regular and adequate treatment is essential to obtain cure and prevent disabilities. India is trying to achieve the ‘Leprosy elimination target’ but it still seems to be a distant goal. World Health Organization has also made a global strategy for further reducing leprosy burden and maintaining leprosy control activities.

Leprosy is an infectious disease that has been there since Biblical times. It is characterized by disfiguring skin sores,nerve damage,and progressive debilitation. It is not very contagious (difficult to transmit) and has a long incubation period (time before symptoms appear). About half of the people with leprosy contracted it through close,long-term contact with an infected person. Casual and short- term contact does not seem to spread the disease. Leprosy cannot be contacted by simply touching someone with the disease,as is commonly believed. Health care workers often work for many years with people who have leprosy without getting the disease.

Treatment can stop the progression of leprosy but do not reverse any nerve damage or deformity. Thus,early detection and treatment are vitally important as it limits the damage by the disease,renders the patient non-infectious,and allows for normal life style.