India is one of the major countries with the world’s largest leprosy elimination program. Moreover, India is seeing success in the leprosy elimination program, but the new cases of leprosy in India are a major concern. AGWO-NGO for Disabled in today’s article will share details about Leprosy Day, the solution, and other relevant data.
Although India declared leprosy free in 2005 as a public health problem, reducing its prevalence to 0.72 per 10,000 people, However, India in 2019 is not less than a leprosy capital after 18 years of being declared leprosy-free. According to the World Health Organization, it accounts for 66% of leprosy cases in India. There are ways to cure leprosy, yet it is quite tough sometimes, especially after declaring India leprous. After this, they couldn’t pay attention to the surveillance and case-finding. As a result, the intensity of the rise in leprosy cases is very high.
AGWO, an NGO for disabled, sees a major setback for India due to the rise in leprosy cases. This disease is a major problem in developing countries. As a result, India topped this list, followed by Brazil and Indonesia. The day to create awareness about leprosy day was chosen by Raoul Follereau a French humanitarian to give tribute to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi who had done commendable work with the people suffering from leprosy.
Mahatma Gandhi sees eliminating leprosy is the only way to make people live lifetime. Apart from treating leprosy disease his main mission was to bring these effected people to the mainstream society. AGWO an ngo for disabledhas felt that legal discrimination these people face despite of many programs implementation of policy, is heart itching to us.
NGO for Disabled on History of World Leprosy Day
French philanthropist Raoul Follereau established world Leprosy Day in 1954. The main objective was to raise awareness about leprosy disease and to teach people about this ancient disease that is now easily curable. Various people across the world are not aware of the disease, lack of access to basic medical care, and continued stigma surrounding the illness.
The two goals while creating World Leprosy Day: Persons affected by leprosy should get equal treatment and the second was to re-educate people about leprosy disease by correcting historical misconceptions surrounding the disease.
It is celebrated on last Sunday of everyJanuaryto spread awareness about leprosy disease. The day celebration by organization working for people affected due to leprosy to make them fit and provide help to uplift in the society.
What is Leprosy Day?
Hansen’s disease is another name for leprosy. Leprosy is a bacterial infection that is chronic and progressive. It causes through the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, an alkaline rod-shaped bacillus. An illness that tends to leave a frightening image of disfigurement, refusal, and rejection from society in its wake. It affects the nervous skins, peripheral nerves Leprosy is one of the longest surviving diseases known to mankind, plaguing it since ancient times.
A written record of leprosy goes all the way back to 600 B.C. It was widely identified thousands of years ago in the earliest civilizations of India, China, and Egypt. The presence of leprosy infections in thousands-year-old remains is supported by genetic evidence. However, after long battle this disease is curable through multidrug therapy.
How Leprosy Disease transmitted?
During close and frequent contact with untreated cases, the drops from the nasal passage and mouth transmit it. Untreated leprosy can performance by improving and perpetual harm to the skin, nervousness, limbs, and eyes.
Symptoms of Leprosy Disease
Leprosy or Hansen disease which makes someone life hell and make them to fall under the trap of loneliness or sometime even to depression. This is because there are many restrictions for the effected through these hazardous diseases. Ngo for disabled here is highlighting some symptoms of leprosy disease.
- Spots on Skin: This spots appear on the arms, legs back. They might become darker or reddish on skin. However, these red spots or rashes don’t burnt or hurt.
- Eye Problem: There are 2 symptoms on eyes for leprosy disease. Firstly, the eye becomes light sensitive. Secondly, if the disease occupy facial nerves lose of reflex this result in eyes dryness, ulcer and sometimes even to blindness.
Apart from this hair loss, curled figures, muscles weakness, numbness, and tingling are other symptoms of this.
World Leprosy Day Theme
Every year a theme for world leprosy day is taken to define the objective of
2023- Act Now. End Leprosy.
2022- United for Dignity
2021- Beat Leprosy, End Stigma and Advocate for Mental Well-Being
2020-Ending discrimination, stigma and prejudice
2019- Ending discrimination, stigma and prejudice
2018-Zero Disabilities in Girls and Boys
World Health Organization Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030
Global Target-
- There are 120 countries with no new endemic cases.
- 70% reduction in the yearly number of cases detected
- 90% decrease in the rate of new infections of grade-2 disability per million inhabitants (G2D).
- 90% decrease in the number of new leprosy cases per million kids.
World Health Organization aims at achieving zero leprosy or Hansen till 2030. This long vision includes zero level discrimination, stigma, disability, zero infection.
Government Steps taken to Eradicate Leprosy
National Leprosy Control Programme
Government of India launches National Leprosy Control Programme in 1954-1955. Though the Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) cure identified in 1970s. However, the use of MDT came in wider use in 1982. This programme was extended to all over Indian in 1993-1994 with the help of World Bank. Under this programme though India achieve the goalset by NHP 2002 to eliminate leprosy by 2005, less than 1 case per 1, 00,000 populations. Zero percentage discrimination against the leprosy patient.
Other Steps taken in order to Eradicate Leprosy
- India cemented the human right on 2016-Lepers Act repealed of draconian era
- The Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign was launch in 2017 to address the issue and promote awareness. This includes campaign tracking, chemoprophylaxis, examination and research may help to bring cases down. An annual activity during 30st January to 13th February
- A good step taken by passing a bill to remove leprosy as a ground of divorce.
- Every year, approximately 200,000 individuals are identified with leprosy, and millions more suffer the negative consequences of delayed leprosy therapies. Not only that, but the day as well offers a chance to commemorate the lives of the affected, increase awareness about disease’s symptoms and signs and address the stigma attached with leprosy.
Leprosy is Curable
After long battle leprosy is curable a 12 months treatment name multi drug therapy total dose between 2 to 3 is advisable for treatment. It is very important to complete the treatment otherwise it can come back. After the treatment the infected person no longer contagious to disease.
AGWO an ngo for disabled in today article mention all the initiative by government as well as World Health Organization. We all need understand that leprosy is a dangerous but curable disease and people infected from this get love and care without the thought. Our ngo will definitely help anyone who will come up to us for counseling and other medical facilities. We assure them to provide our complete assistance.
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