A PLAN to medically rehabilitate deformed leprosy patients will come in force in the 11th five-year plan (2007-2012). The medical rehabilitation of deformed leprosy patients will be done through the State Government and social service agencies in the State and over one lakh such patients will benefit from this programme for which 2006-2007 has already been announced as the year to give a concrete shape to this programme.
State Government today claimed it was the first in the country to achieve the target set by the Government of India to restrict incidence of leprosy to one person per 10,000. The rate of leprosy patients had come down to 0.72 persons per 10,000 even as the total leprosy patients in the State had been reduced to 4,876 in comparison to 1.62 lakh registered in the year 1987-88.
An official release said the State Government has instructed all district Collectors, Chief Medical and Health officers for the implementation of leprosy eradication programme. Propaganda on a large scale, quiz competition and camps for prevention from deformities will be organised as per the instruction of State Government.
The Government has already traced 65 blocks that have a leprosy rate of more than one per 10,000 population and have instructed officials to prepare a special work plan to address this issue.
Besides, several activities are taking place regularly in the State for complete eradication of leprosy. Last year many camps had been organised in 313 blocks for leprosy patients and in the same manner 2006-07 will have many such camps in all districts. So far 55 camps have already taken place.
{{/usCountry}}Besides, several activities are taking place regularly in the State for complete eradication of leprosy. Last year many camps had been organised in 313 blocks for leprosy patients and in the same manner 2006-07 will have many such camps in all districts. So far 55 camps have already taken place.
{{/usCountry}}District leprosy units have been established and training has already been provided to these units and the units are actively working towards leprosy eradication programme. Further, many camps have been organised like school survey, skin disease diagnosis camps to identify the patients that have resulted in decline in the number of leprosy patients, the release added.