HEALTH

Leprosy elimination plan chalked out
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 11 — While the prevalence rate of leprosy among the indigenous population of the city is 0.1 cases per 10,000, but it is 3.67 cases per 10,000 if the migrant population which comes to the city from five endemic states is included.

Dr Joginder Singh, Director, Health Services, Union Territory, has in a letter written to the Central Government, urged it to allow the union territory to extend the Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign (MLEC) for another three years to ensure elimination of the disease. He maintains that due to migratory labour from the five major endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa to the city, elimination can only be achieved once they do so in their respective states.

Meanwhile, the second round of the MLEC started at the Sector 16 General Hospital yesterday with the training programme. In 1991, the World Health Organisation and its member states had committed themselves to the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem by March, 2000 — elimination being defined as prevalence of below one case per 10,000.

Giving detailed figures, Dr Vanita Gupta, District Leprosy Officer, revealed that India had seen a significant decrease in the prevalence of leprosy since the introduction of multi-drug therapy in 1981. From a prevalence rate of 57 per 10,000 in March, 1981, the figures declined to 5.19 per 10,000 in March, 1999. Statistics further revealed that 105 districts in the country had achieved the elimination level. Another 211 districts were heading for elimination, having a prevalence rate of below 5 per 10,000 — of which 122 were in the five endemic states.

Dr Gupta said in order to improve the level of disease elimination in the city, detailed programme for the second round of the MLEC had been chalked out in which emphasis would be on training of the medical staff and paramedical personnel to identify such patients. More than 1,200 personnel would be trained to detect and treat leprosy during the two-month period which would end in February. Training being imparted to various groups of health workers varied from one day to three days. An education programme to create general awareness through newspaper advertisements, radio and TV jingles and banners would be undertaken from January 20 to February 20. The government had sanctioned Rs 4 lakh for this programme.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by M. leprae, an acid-fat, rod-shaped bacillus. The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. It affects people of all age groups. The disease has a very long period of incubation or latency, running into several years, and is generally transmitted through close contact. However, even the first dose of anti-leprosy drugs has been effective in controlling its spread.

Focus was on hunting for hidden leprosy cases in the target areas of slums, villages and colonies in the periphery of the city during the first campaign in April. Of the three lakh persons covered, 112 confirmed cases and 2,000 suspected cases were detected. Confirmed cases were treated and released.

Mr M. Ramsekhar, Deputy Commissioner, said during the ongoing second round, thrust would be on treatment as elimination strategy. It was important to give proper training to registered medical practitioners at intermediate and peripheral levels as patients first come in contact with them and wrong diagnosis worsened the disease, he added.

Dr Gupta said that a beginning had been made with reconstructive surgeries at General Hospital, Sector 16, to treat deformities such as hand claws, foot claws, wrist drops end eye deformities. A seminar would be held on Anti-Leprosy Day, which falls on January 30, to sensitise mediapersons, sarpanches, municipal councillors and non-government organisations about the disease.

ADMINISTRATION

Projects worth 1.5 cr approved
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, Jan 11 — Estimates worth over Rs 1.50 crore for development projects in the township were approved at a meeting of the Municipal Council held here today. Completion of development projects worth Rs 9.78 lakh at Silvy Park in Phase 10, which initially attracted objections from some councillors, was also passed.

At the start of the meeting a councillor, Mr Amrik Singh Bhatti, said that the council should clarify its position on the payment of Rs 3.85 lakh to the Public Health Department. When Mr Bhatti threatened to walk out of the meeting, it was agreed to bring the item on the agenda.

Regarding a complaint against a former private octroi collection contractor for charging an excess amount of Rs 26,250 on a consignment of Power Ways Industries, the council decided to deduct the amount from the security deposit of the contractor. The council also took serious note of overcharging by the contractor. Another case of refund of an octroi fee of Rs 24,645, which was charged on consignment of Anand Lamp Limited, was also allowed.

When another item regarding repair and replacement of tyres of JCB machine of the council was tabled, a number of councillors alleged that the machine was being used for doing undesired jobs. The item regarding approval of Rs 96,357 for repairing the JCB machine was referred to a subcommittee.

Gupta ISTC Principal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 11 — Dr. Rupinder Gupta has been appointed as Principal of the Indo-Swiss Training Centre (ISTC). He takes over from Mr. P.S. Malhotra. Both are ‘F’ grade scientists in the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, of which the ISTC is a part.

The change follows routine administrative reshuffle. Mr Malhotra will now be in charge of the CSIO’s project to establish an Advance Technical Training Centre in Sikkim, which will be on the pattern of the ISTC.

Prior to coming here, Dr Gupta was stationed at Delhi. He did his postgraduation in mechanical engineering from the US and doctorate from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.