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U’khand makes strides in leprosy control
Despite being capable, most forced to beg
Designs of creativity, hard work
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Students must take up creative writing, say experts
Soon, tennis clay court in Doon
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U’khand makes strides in leprosy control
Dehradun, September 12 Among the various national disease control programmes launched so far, the success rate of the leprosy programme in lowering the prevalence rate in the state has been commendable. Uttarakhand achieved the target of bringing down the percentage to 1 per cent or below per 10,000 persons in March 2005, while the country achieved the same goal in December 2005. After achieving the goal, the state Health Department is now focusing on complete eradication of the disease, a tall order no doubt, especially when the disease is regarded with disdain and continues to be misunderstood. In Uttarakhand, the prevalence rate per 10,000 population in 2002-03 was 1.888 per cent; in 2003-04 per 10,000 population the rate was 1.37 per cent; in 2004-05 per 10,000 population, it was 0.93 per cent, in 2005-06 per 10,000 population, it was 0.7 per cent, in 2006-07 per 10,000 population, it was 0.63 per cent, in 2007-08 per 10,000 population, it was 0.56 per cent and 2008-09 per 10,000 population, it was 0.45 per cent. For the period March 2008-April 2009, the total of new cases are 667 and the balance cases are 436. “The districts of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar have the highest number of cases followed by Dehradun and Nainital. “It is difficult to pinpoint exactly the reasons behind the number of cases, but these districts border Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, there is a pattern in the spread of the disease,” said Dr Harish Chandra, state Leprosy Officer. The National Leprosy Eradication Programme took up the challenge with the active support of governments of various states and union territories and dedicated partners in the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP), the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation and the Nippon Foundation, NOVARTIS, DANLEP and the World Bank. A disease of the nervous system, it strikes any portion of the skin due to mycobacterium infection. The part can lose sensation and develop white patches. “Depending on the number of anaesthetic patches that are formed on the body, the severity of the disease is assessed. “If the patches are below five (Pauci Bacillus leprosy), Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) treatment is given for a period of six months. “If the patches are more than five (Multi-Bacillus leprosy), MDT is given for 12 months,” said Dr DS Bisht, Surveillance Medical Officer. He said that MDT has been very successful in treating leprosy patients. The numbers have come down mainly because the transmission levels have greatly reduced. “Though it is a communicable disease, the spread is low. It is spread through sneezing, coughing and human contact. “It is also a slow-growing disease that takes 3-5 years to develop,” said Dr Bisht. Leprosy continues to be stigmatised in a society that continues to believe that it is a result of bad ‘karma’ in previous life. These myths are rampant among people who have less education. It forces socially marginalised groups such as women and poor people to take a back seat when it comes to seeking medical advice. The situation of patients who have been cured but have been physically deformed is also not very rosy. The British, through the 1898 Leprosy Act, tried to segregate patients by gender to prevent the spread of the disease. Charities and local governments in British India constructed many new institutions for people with leprosy which provided social, religious, and medical help. The Dehradun Leprosy Hospital is one such hospital that was built during the pre-colonial era and continues to provide medical care to patients who require dressing. It was repealed in 1983 after the advent of the multi-drug therapy for leprosy.
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Despite being capable, most forced to beg Dehradun, September 12 These patients till date have not been integrated in society and continue to live in ashrams that were set up by charitable organisations. Most suffer low esteem, stay in isolated pockets and have resigned themselves to their fate. In Uttarakhand, there are a total of 29 ashrams and eight are in Dehradun. These include Rotary Kusht Ashram, Shiv Kusht Ashram, Shanti Kusht Ashram, Ram Mandir Ashram, Kripaoye ki Mata Ashram, Navjeevan Ashram, Raphael Home and Tara Parvat Ashram. “We are dependent on people’s largesse. In the month of ‘Sharad’, most of us get a reasonable amount of food and dry ration donated by generous souls,” said Ram Raja, an inmate of Ram Mandir Ashram. The inmates, who have less deformity, run the community kitchen where all members eat. In Ram Mandir Ashram, a total of 33 inmates have been residing since 1940 at a residential complex that was donated by the Mahant Guru Ram Rai. Most houses are in a bad shape having leaking roofs. To make matters worse, rain water enters the houses that have been built in low-lying areas. Pradhan of the ashram Kirtu Singh complained of discrimination whenever he went to the government hospital to get treatment for sores. “I am fully cured but as soon as persons see me, they start turning their backs. This is the reason why we had requested for a doctor at our dispensary, but he has not made a visit for the past two months,” moaned Kirtu Singh from Tehri. The inmates spend most of their free time praying and never fail in the upkeep of a temple that occupies a pride of place at the centre. Similarly at Shiv Kusht Ashram where there are more than 15 inmates, begging is the only vocation most of them follow. “Several organisations come to us with a promise of a better tomorrow but their enthusiasm wanes within a couple of months,” said Ghanshyam of the ashram. The biggest lepers colony here that is situated at Mohini Road has managed to engage several inmates in carpet and cane weaving. The Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation (SILF), a sister organisation of Nippon Foundation, has also engaged the ashram dwellers in candle and agarbati-making activities. Experts pointed out that though the deformities continue to be visible, some percentage of it can be reduced through reconstructive surgery. More studies are needed to better understand the causes of stigma and to assess the effect of interventions to decrease stigma and discrimination.
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Designs of creativity, hard work
Dehradun, September 12 Displayed along the roadside on the Mussoorie-Dehradun highway, driftwood showpieces are liked by every traveller for being economical and beautiful. Found in the nearby river the pieces are given a variety of abstract designs and look beautiful at any corner of the house, lawns or office. “For the past 14 years, my family is creating various showpieces out of driftwood. People from Doon as well as tourists who are on their way to Mussoorie drop in specially to purchase these creative pieces,” said Jitendra, artist. However, apart from being sturdy in nature these pieces are economical on the pocket. The price of the smallest piece costs Rs 70 and depending on the size it can even go beyond Rs 1,500. Once the branches are picked up from the river, these are dried up, refined through sand paper and moulded into desired shapes, which can easily last for 20 to 25 years. “We keep on changing the designs and shapes of these pieces. Depending on the size and design a piece generally takes from three hours to three days,” said Jitendra. “At such a minimum cost, these showpieces are worth purchasing,” said Natasha, a tourist. At a cheap rate and durability, the shine of the wooden showpieces can be maintained by varnish. This is the only place in the city where art lovers can find innovative designs and dedication of a family, which believes in preserving its age-old tradition. “We want to showcase our work and that is why we sell these on the highway. Whenever any tourist appreciates our labour and creativity, it encourages us not only to continue our traditional work, but even to produce different designs,” said an elated Jitendra.
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Students must take up creative writing, say experts
Dehradun, September 12 Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day workshop on creative Hindi writing here at Narishilp Girls Inter-College, Dr Pant said any writing that was sensitive to human issues helped in building a healthy society. Another speaker Kirshan Bala Khurana asked the students to make their writing an instrument to highlight the evils prevailing in society. She said small incidents in life could pave way to start writing in one’s life. Nirmal Virmani, vice-president, Swayum Sanstha, said there was a big potential of creative writing in Hindi. He said students must ensure their participation in works of creative writing in a big way. Principal Kusum Rani Naithani, vice-principal Manju Saxena and and programme officer Kiran Arya were other prominent speakers at the workshop. A day earlier, eminent literary figure Dr Ashwa Ghosh spoke on the importance of Hindi creative writing. He lauded the efforts of both NSS and Swayum Sanstha towards the promotion of creative Hindi writing. Apart from Narishilp, students from Mahadevi Kanya Pathshala, Government Girls Inter-College Lakhibagh, Lakshman Vidhyalaya, DAV Inter-College and Mussoorie Girls Inter-College took part in the workshop, which was jointly organised by the National Service Scheme and Swayum Sanstha.
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Soon, tennis clay court in Doon
Dehradun, September 12 The court will be the second one in the state, the first being at BHEL, Haridwar. Till date, all clay court tournament were being organised at Haridwar. But now the city also stands a chance of organising state-level tournament. Rajeev Yadav, who has the experience of preparing clay courts for eight years, said, “Having a clay court in Dehradun will help young tennis players to improve their skills and endurance in the initial stage, which is otherwise not possible on a synthetic court.” He said the court would be ready in a month’s time. Yadav said till date three state clay court tournaments had been organised and the fourth one could well be organised in Dehradun in six months. Pradeep Pant, a tennis player, who has represented the state at various national tournaments, said, “People prefer to play more on clay court for various reasons. One could have long rallies on clay court and players could sustain few knee or joint injuries. Clay courts are also good for youngsters who could improve their skills on the clay court.” The court, which is coming up at St Joseph Academy, is as per an international standard and is expected to see many young children coming to play on it, added Pradeep.
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Dehradun, September 12
