Awareness programme on Leprosy reaches Lingmoo

Lingmoo, 24 June [IPR]: An awareness programme organised by the Namchi District Hospital on Leprosy was held at Primary Health Sub-Centre (PHSC), Lingmoo, South Sikkim today. Residents of Lingmoo Gram Panchayat Unit, ASHA workers, Aaganwadi workers, VHSNC members and people from surrounding areas attended the program chaired by CMO (South) Dr Bimal Rai accompanied by Director (IEC), CL Pradhan; Senior Non-Medical Leprosy Officer BK Rai and DPNOs (District Public Health Nursing Officers).
The awareness programme began with a welcome address by Deputy Director (IEC) who highlighted the importance of the program.
Addressing the session, the CMO emphasized the reason of why the Health Department has taken such a serious initiative to spread awareness in remote areas like Lingmoo. Dr. Rai discussed the ill-effects and negative stigma associated with Leprosy and how utmost care should be taken to combat the disease though early diagnosis with proper treatment and timely dosage of Antileprosy drugs (MDT).
He advised and instructed the public, rural health representatives and panchayats as a whole to encourage and support patients to undergo proper treatment and take collective responsibility to make their region as well as Sikkim, a disease free state.
In conclusion, he also spoke about Tuberculosis and how it bears similarities to Leprosy and notified the gathering about the free treatment provided by all the Government Hospitals in the state for all kinds of communicable diseases.
The CMO also informed that there are a total of 153 ASHAs at present in South district who are also trained to provide awareness regarding such diseases. He accordingly directed the ASHA workers to make home visits to identify such cases and coordinate with the hospitals to provide immediate treatment to the patients.
The Leprosy Officer explained various signs, symptoms and forms of Leprosy. Also, in the course of the program, medical revelations of cases detected in Melli and Jorethang were also discussed.
DPHNO, Ms. Vijay Laxmi Rai spoke on Mother & Child Health, particularly the weekly distribution of Iron and Folic Acid supplements which she informed is given to children both boys and girls between 10-19 years of age as well as to married/ unmarried/ pregnant females in the villages with a dose on every Monday of a week. She notified that the dosage prevents and checks conditions like anaemia in women. She also spoke on health issues like measles, child mortality due to measles and in turn, asked the ASHA and Aaganwadi workers to monitor child growth charts.
Another important awareness which was discussed during the programme was promotion of institutional child delivery in the hospitals instead of delivering at home. The SDPHNO, Tarun Rai who addressed the gathering on this issue.
The Health Department informed that 2 Leprosy cases have been detected in Koltang Tokdey and Lingmoo Paiyong GPUs under South District. These patients were provided with immediate treatment and are still undergoing treatment, it was informed.