Pune: On the directives of the Central government, every municipal corporation will organise an awareness campaign from September 24 to October 9 about the leprosy disease. This campaign will also cover the rural parts. According to the notification issued by the leprosy unit of the state health department, every volunteer will visit 25 homes each day for 15 days as part of the Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC).

Every person will be checked for skin diseases and leprosy. The family members will also be familiarised with the symptoms of leprosy. The notification stated that according to the type of leprosy, patients will be given free treatment. 

The idea is to spot leprosy in the initial stages and among children as well so that treatment can be started as soon as possible. Dr Sanjay Jathar, supervisor urban leprosy unit, in-charge of leprosy programme for Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) from the state health department said that this programme will be helpful.

“The programme aims at awareness in general population. Volunteers will conduct home to home survey by volunteers and health staff during leprosy case detection campaign. The idea is to examine and identifying suspects and then confirm if the patients have the condition by talking to the experts during  the campaign period. After a person is suspected to have leprosy disease, it would be a big success if they report to the health centres voluntarily,” said Jathar.

He also added that awareness and knowledge about the signs and symptoms of the disease is very important.
“There is a dire need to eliminate misconceptions about leprosy. It is one of the curable diseases if diagnosed and treated early and completely,” emphasised Jathar.