TURA: West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh said that India still has the highest incidence of leprosy and prevalence of myths among the people.
Singh was speaking during the observation of the Anti-Leprosy day at the District Maternity and Child Hospital, Conference Room in Tura on Thursday. Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) was also launched. The day was observed to commemorate the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, who was known for his love and service towards persons suffering from leprosy.
Singh said that people should be given awareness to highlight the curative and positive aspects of the disease for which the grassroots worker should work actively in their respective field of duty. Referring to the Leprosy Colony in Tura, he suggested that the name should be changed since the very colony indicates a kind of discrimination to the people of the area.
Further, he said that while catering to the monthly village health sanitation and nutrition day services at the village level, awareness on different subject matters related to health care facilities should be addressed to the people on a rotation basis so that they understand the nature, cause and treatment of various diseases prevalent in the region and also ensure to create a leprosy free India in near future.
Minakshi Sangma, Joint Director, Garo Hills, said that the disease is prevalent in the region and informed about the causes and treatment facilities available in the hospital for leprosy patients and urged the ASHAs, ANMs and other medical staff to give awareness to the people.
