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Awareness is the key to tackle it

treating leprosy
Last Updated 02 February 2015, 15:40 IST

As 30th of January was internationally observed as World Leprosy Day, in India, which houses a staggering 58 per cent of worlds total leprosy patients, an increasing number of leprosy experts, equipped with modern medical technology, are finding it hard to defeat one of the oldest ailments in human history. The reason being abject poverty that a major number of Indians live under, coupled with the social stigma that such patients face.

Anju Chaurasia, now an accounts manager in Barbanki, Uttar Pradesh, is perhaps one of the lucky ones who was cured of the ailment which has an incubation period of two-eight years. A native of Balia (UP) , she had developed symptoms of leprosy at the age of 14 and with the support of her family, managed to access quality treatment. But many in the poverty stricken states of India do not share such heart warming stories. According to a report of Central Leprosy Division, Directorate General of Health Services, a total 1.27 lakh new cases were detected in 2011-12 alone. About 46,845 among them were women and 12,043 children. Similarly, 5,256 of grade II disability was recorded, while 14.31 per cent of new cases were among Scheduled Tribes and 18.69 pre cent among Scheduled Castes.

The number could be much higher, say medical experts as a lot of cases go unreported. This, 10 years after India eliminated leprosy as a public health problem.

For Dr Sunil Anand, director of The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI), eradicating myths and notions surrounding the disease can phenomenally aid in eradicating the disease itself. “Leprosy is considered to be a ‘punishme­nt by god’. Not only do patie­nts face social boycott, their entire families are considered to be infected. Most importa­ntly no one marries into a fa­mily which has a leprosy patient. The result is that people who even suspect that they might be suffering from leprosy, do not proceed with medical treatment,” he said, adding the disease is ‘totally curable’ and the treatment not that expensive.

“Awareness programmes will go a long way in educating people of the need to report early and prevent deformities. Today, among the communicable diseases, leprosy is the leading cause for permanent disabilities,” says Nikita Sara, head of media and advocacy (TLMTI). But even after the medical fraternity, along with NGOs manage to tackle the monetary upheavals and soc­ial stigmas attached with the disease through awareness programmes, poverty continues to be at the crux of the problem.

Says Dr Vineeta Shanker, executive director of Sasa­kawa India Leprosy Foun­­­­­­­­­dation (SILF), the disea­se is itself a ‘non discriminatory one’ even though it is also termed as the ‘disease of poverty’. 

“Most of the people have the immunity to fight the dise­ase which can affect anyone, irrespective of their social status. But there is no denying that it is more rampant amo­ng the poorest of poor. Major reasons being poor sanitation, hygiene, nutritional deficit, along with poor immunity. All of them of course are issues found among the economi­-
­­­cally weaker sections of society,” she said, emphasising on combating social stigma also.

Uma Devi’s mother-in-law threw her out of her home. Devi who moved to her mother’s house had to leave because of the ill behaviour of her sister-in-law. Her mother then took her to Varanasi. “We used to get food from the ashram in Varanasi and get money and clothing from foreigners. We lived on the ghats and at night we could not sleep and were scared. But slowly we got used to it.” After being cured from the disease in 2010, Devi is a happy woman. “I always longed for a home and today I have it. I yearned for affection and I got it all from doctors, nurses, staff and patients. I am happy and content here.”

But is the affection shown by medical staff enough? “People don’t come in for early treatment fearing societal pressure. Families have to  be supportive and affectionate. That’s where the treatment to the disease lies,” Dr Anand concluded. 

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(Published 02 February 2015, 15:40 IST)

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