Leprosy detection campaign in 113 villages in Dakshina Kannada from November 24

Mangaluru: The second phase of the leprosy detection campaign taken up under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme will be conducted in 113 villages in Dakshina Kannada district from November 24 to December 9, said DHO Dr H R Thimmaiah.

The campaign is aimed at early detection and treatment to ensure patients do not reach the complications before detection along with creating awareness and increasing community participation in early detection. People should not neglect white or brown patch on the skin without any sensation, he told mediapersons.

District Leprosy officer Dr Sudarshan C M said that the detection campaigns are held in those areas where leprosy cases were detected in the last five years in the district. Accordingly, it will be covered in 55 PHC limits. All the 1,60, 314 households with 7,61,902 population in 113 villages in the district will be covered under the campaign. As many as 573 teams will be deployed with 1146 personnel to carry out leprosy detection in each households.

He said that as many as 40 cases have been detected in the district from April to October during the year. Of which, 27 are from within the district. One child too have been detected with leprosy during the year. One grade II (deformity) case has been reported in the district during the year. Going by the detection, it looks like, the leprosy cases are on rise in the district. More number of multibacillary (MB) cases are detected in the district rather than paucibacillary (PB) or early stage cases. To detect the cases at early stage, the campaign is being organised, he explained.

During the campaign, the health workers will visit 15 to 20 houses in rural areas and 20 to 25 houses in urban areas daily. In case, if a case is detected, the primary contacts of the patient will be given single dose rifampicin to reduce the spread. “If the health workers notice white / brown patches on the body of individuals, during testing, then they will be sent to hospitals for confirmation and medication.

Further, the health department will also organise camps by specialist doctors at Bantwal taluk hospital (Dec 2), Puttur taluk hospital (Dec 3), Vittal Community health centre (Dec 4), Belthangady taluk hospital (Dec 5), Sullia taluk hospital (Dec 6). Dermatologists are available at Wenlock Hospital daily, he added.

The health teams will also visit hostels in the areas identified for the campaign. The medicines are given free of cost for leprosy. Dr Sudarshan said those who have been cured of leprosy after treatment are provided with multicellular rubber footwear by government.