Haryana Health Minister, Kumari Arti Singh Rao announced that Haryana will be made a leprosy free state. To achieve this, an awareness campaign has been launched, which will run until February 13. She emphasized that people suffering from leprosy are provided with free treatment in the state.
A program was also held in village Kharak Mangoli, in Panchkula district, to mark Leprosy Awareness Day. During the event, three leprosy patients from the village were honored. Additionally, attendees took an oath to refrain from discriminating against individuals affected by leprosy.
Health Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao, while making the people of the state aware on Leprosy Awareness Day, emphasized that leprosy is neither a curse nor a result of sins from past lives. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on this occasion, she highlighted that the Father of the Nation was deeply compassionate towards leprosy patients and advocated for their non-discrimination.
She also noted that Gandhi was committed to the eradication of leprosy. The Health Minister stated that leprosy is a simple disease caused by the Mycobacterium bacteria, primarily affecting the skin and nerves. It is one of the least contagious diseases, even less so than the common cold.
Leprosy can affect people of any age, both men and women. If left untreated, it can spread from person to person and may lead to disability. However, timely treatment can prevent the disease's spread. A leprosy patient can lead a completely normal life if the disease is detected early.
With early diagnosis, complete recovery is possible through multi-drug therapy. The Minister further said that leprosy is fully cured after 6 to 12 months of treatment. Over the past 10 years, 4,277 individuals affected by leprosy have completed their treatment and are now living normal lives with their families.
The Health Minister said that leprosy treatment is available free of cost at all government health centers across Haryana. He further highlighted that the state government has successfully eradicated smallpox and polio. He expressed confidence that, in the coming years, Haryana will also become a leprosy-free state.
She shared that Health Department workers conduct door-to-door surveys to quickly detect and identify suspected leprosy patients. He explained that symptoms such as light yellow marks on the skin and numbness in the palms or soles may indicate leprosy.
He urged individuals experiencing these symptoms to seek care at the nearest health center, as delaying treatment can lead to disability. If anyone notices signs of leprosy in someone around them, they are encouraged to immediately take the person to the nearest health center.
Additionally, if leprosy is confirmed in a suspected individual, the person who reports it is rewarded with Rs 250 by the government. The Minister also clarified that, currently, no one with leprosy is sent to leprosy colonies. Instead, affected individuals are able to live normal lives with their families.
Dr. Manish Bansal, Director General, Haryana Health Services Department, shared that currently, only 382 leprosy patients are being treated in Haryana, with most of them coming from neighboring states. He also mentioned that the Haryana government provides anti-leprosy medications free of cost at government hospitals, community health centers, and primary health centers across all districts.
In addition, leprosy patients are provided with "Micro Cellular Rubber Footwear," psychiatric medicines, scalp care items, crutches, self-care kits, and other necessary supplies free of cost, as per their individual requirements. Dr. Bansal also shared that there are 19 leprosy colonies across various districts in Haryana, where 567 individuals affected by leprosy, along with their families who have completed their treatment, currently reside.
Four of these colonies are managed by the Hindu Kusht Nivaran Sangh, and one by the Red Cross Society, both of which receive government assistance. The remaining 14 colonies have been established by the leprosy patients themselves.