In an attempt to intensify the Leprosy elimination programme in Jharkhand, World Health Organization (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador, Yohei Sasakawa reached India. On Saturday, during a press conference in Ranchi, he gave information about the scheme being run for leprosy patients and its control.
Sasakawa accompanied his father to a leprosy treatment center in South Korea. Seeing the discrimination faced by people affected by leprosy there In 1965, he dedicated his life for the eradication of leprosy. For the last 40 years, he has been working for the eradication of leprosy across the world. In view of his service spirit, the WHO has declared him as a Goodwill Ambassador. For the last 3 years, his campaign had slowed down due to the Corona epidemic. When the era of the epidemic was over, Sasakawa reached India.
Sasakawa, 83, said that a female friend of father Ryoichi had leprosy. She lived near his house. Suddenly she disappeared. After much research, it was found that he had been sent to live in solitude due to this disease. This incident shook him. After which Yohei resolved to work for the leprosy patients. He said that leprosy is not a genetic disease. It is a disease caused by bacteria. Leprosy patients should not be discriminated against. The treatment of the disease is possible with Multi Drug Therapy (MDT).
Director Principal Health Services Dr Krishna Kumar said that leprosy is not a curse. On seeing the initial symptoms, go to the health center near you and get tested. This disease is curable. He said that free medicines are given at the government centre. Patients become healthy by taking the medicine. Leprosy patients should not be discriminated against.
On the other hand, Mohammad Jainuddin, a resident of Jamshedpur, who works for leprosy patients, said that three colonies are being built for leprosy patients on 5 acres in Ani Tola, Ranchi. Here 256 families will be given houses. Along with this, efforts are also being made to provide accommodation to 1824 families suffering from leprosy.
The National Center for Disease Control campaign ran from July 1 to July 14. During this, 2688 new leprosy patients have been found in Jharkhand. At the same time, according to the National Leprosy Eradication Program report, in the year 2000, the number of leprosy patients was 14.9 per ten thousand population. At the same time, on 31 March 2022, the proportion of leprosy patients per ten thousand population is 0.80.
