The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The speakers at a function on Monday stressed the need for creating mass awareness among the people to bring the leprosy patients under treatment to build a Leprosy disease-free healthy society.

"Pale or reddish patches on the skin, loss of sensation, tingling of hands or feet or earlobes, painless wounds, painful tender nerves, swelling or lumps in face are the clinical signs of the leprosy disease that can cause not only physical disability but also social problems".

They said this in a day-long advocacy seminar for the leprosy affected people jointly organised by Gaibandha-Jaypurhat Leprosy Care Project (GJLCP) of The Leprosy Mission Bangladesh and National Leprosy Eradication Programe of Directorate of Health at the hall room of Gaibandha Pourashava of the town here on November 24.

Prodwip Bahar Pramanik, Programme Director of GJLCP, addressed it as chief guest. Presided over by M. Anwar-ul-Hasan Sabur, Mayor of the pourashava, the function was also addressed, among others, by councillor Abdul Hai, Leprosy control officer Keshab Chandra Roy, Leprosy control superviser Nasima Ferdous and Advocate Badrun Nahar.

There is no risk of disease spreading to anyone within twenty-four hours of starting multi drug therapy they said adding that the dose is either 6 months or 12 months period to be fully effective, they also said.

Laying the importance and emphasis on changing the moral attitudes to the Leprosy- affected people, they urged all to stand beside them avoiding the discrimination and stigma so that they could live in the community with dignity like other people.

A group of singers also rendered songs on the awareness of Leprosy in the function. More than 60 councilors and the employees of the pourashava including the journalists participated in the seminar.

Besides, health education materials, assistive devices and photos relating to the disease were also displayed through a stall set up on the premises of the pourashava.