Jharkhand should be committed to curb leprosy cases in the coming years and eliminate the stigma associated with the disease, World Health Organisation’s (WHO) goodwill ambassador for leprosy and chairman of NIPPON Foundation Yohei Sasakawa said on Sunday which was coincided with the World Health Day.
After a decade, the purpose of Sasakawa’s, four-day visit to Jharkhand is to gain knowledge of ground situation and seek commitment from political leaders to improve living conditions of people affected by leprosy. He met senior officials from the Department of Health and Family Welfare to discuss the state’s projects on leprosy.
“In a meeting with the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand- Ram Sevak Sharma on Saturday, we discussed the current situation in leprosy colonies, where people are not having proper housing, basic infrastructure, land ownership and most people are dependent on begging,” Sasakawa told in the conference.
Jainuddin, State leader of Jharkhand, National Forum India gave a petition to the Chief Secretary in which he highlighted that currently available disability pension of Rs 400 was not sufficient to meet the living expenses and should be increased up to Rs 1500. The Chief Secretary assured that he would look into the matter and do everything to solve these issues.
Jainuddin and Vagavathali Narsappa –Chairman, National Forum India both were suffering from leprosy but cured after proper medication. Now they are living a normal life and serving the patients.
While talking about leprosy situation in Jharkhand, Sasakawa said, “From April 2012 to February 2013, total number of cases detected is 3,317.18 districts having ‘Annual New Case Detention Rate (ANCDR)’ more than 10 per 100,000 populations are identified as high endemic districts for special action.”
He also mentioned that there were 58 leprosy colonies in Jharkhand. leprosy colonies started as people affected from it were forced to go away from their abodes due to severe stigma. ‘Only wearer knows where the shoe pinches’ Narsappa whose sores due to leprosy are cured now, but yet nothing could heal his mind. He said, “I was abandoned from home in a very small age due to stigma my family had to face, when the disease was cured and I was released from treatment, I became disabled due to after effect of leprosy.”
Many people like him still today face the stigma and discrimination that comes with the disease. “We touched upon stigma and discrimination. Both, the states and the centre, have to work on this. I will continue my engagement with state and central level officials to ensure that leprosy is never low on priority,” Sasakawa said.
Sasakawa India leprosy Foundation (SIlF) is implementing 4 projects in Jharkhand; poultry in Jamshedpur, rickshaw/ thela project in Deoghar, pig rearing projects in Jamtara and nursing scholarship and vocational training.