Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Another milestone

India achieves leprosy eradication target .the statistics says so. Its really a milestone achieved. But has the fear of associated with it has changed? Strangely , the answer still lies in no.Even after knowing that only 20% cases are infectious and that too on prolonged contact and exposure that may run into years, and that it is completely curable,it still remains a social stigma. How many of us do not hesistate while even giving some donation to beggars suffering from Leprosy. How many of us do not get disgusted by deformities caused by leprosy and just try hard to keeep a distance from them?The society even had given the name "LEPERS"to people suffering from disease which is just caused by a germ Mycobacterium leprae? Had any one ever heard any such term for people suffering from more deadly and infectious diseases like HIV, Cancer and Hepatitis? This is a social discrimination against them. We may see community participation for eradication of other diseases, awareness campaigns but how many of us have seen ads for Leprosy eradication and more importantly what is being done for rehabiliation of people siuffering from leprosy.Is the society ready to accept them .Even though the medicines are provided free at community health centres but do the patients have this knowledge.
Leprosy is just another disease, like TB . Don't give them look of pity, believe me , they don't need it, just give them the right information and show, we care and that's all is needed .
[Leprosy]
[National Leprosy eradication Programme]
[Mycobacterium leprae]
[India]

Posted by Neelima Arora :: 10:02 PM :: 1 Comments:

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