Kathmandu, Jan 29 : The 70th World Leprosy Day is being
marked today by organizing different programmes under the theme of “Act Now.
End Leprosy”.
The World Leprosy Day is observed
on the last Sunday of January every year.
Since 1954, this day is being
observed all around the world in order to raise awareness about leprosy.
Despite the fact that Nepal was declared leprosy-free in 2010, new cases
continue to emerge, mostly in the Tarai districts. According to government
figures, Nepal witnessed a total of 2,285 new patients of leprosy in the fiscal
year 2079/080.
Leprosy is not a disease that is
passed down through the generations. However, doctors say that if someone is
seen with leprosy disease in the family or community, the chances of seeing it
in others are high.
As per the government data, there
are a total of 910 cases of leprosy in Madhes Province, which is around 40
percent of the total cases of the leprosy recorded in the country.
Surprisingly, Saptari district in Madhes province has no leprosy cases.
Likewise, 581 in Lumbini, 345 in
Province 1, 205 in Sudurpaschim and 68 cases of leprosy are confirmed reported
in Karnali province. The number of leprosy patients is less in Gandaki and
Bagmati provinces compared to other provinces.
In Nepal, 16 districts have
recorded higher cases of leprosy. The districts include Jhapa, Morang, Siraha,
Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Parasi, Rupandehi, Banke,
Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Achham.
Starting its operation in Nepal in
1975, NLR Nepal is involved in leprosy, disabilities and inclusive development
in the districts of Mahottari and Dhanusha of Madhes province. The organization
distributes medicines and conducts preventive measures in those districts.
Likewise, the Madhes Province
Government has also upped its activities for the treatment and prevention of
leprosy, as more cases were reported there. The Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital and
Service Centre is offering services to those needy ones under the auspices of
Nepal Leprosy Trust.
Health Division Chief of Social
Development Ministry of Madhes Province, Dr Mukti Narayan Shah, said that
leprosy camp would be conducted in every single month in each district of the
province to diagnose and cure the leprosy.
The Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital and
Service Centre is offering treatment to as high as 400 patients of skin and
leprosy in every single day. (RSS)