Nabarangpur,Feb, 7: A district-level Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Programme was held today at the local Urban Primary Health Centre under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate (General) Tapan Kumar Khuntia.
The awareness campaign will be conducted across various blocks of the district from January 30 to February 13, 2026, through extensive publicity and outreach activities, with the aim of eliminating leprosy from the district. Under the National Health Mission, the National Leprosy Eradication Programme has set a target to declare India a leprosy-free country by 2027.
Among those present at the programme were ADPHO Dr. Sukanta Satpathy, ADMO Dr. Malay Tripathy, DPM (NHM) Sankar Acharya, DSSO Sudhanshu Patra, DIPRO Manas Behera, UPHC Medical Officer Dr. Priyaranjan Nanda, ADEO Srikanta Jani, and District Leprosy Eradication Supervisor Suchandra Tangi.
According to available information, between April 2020 and December 2025, a total of 325 persons in the district are currently undergoing treatment for leprosy. During this period, 1,546 new cases were detected. So far, 1,221 persons have been cured of the disease. Among the affected, 89 are children.
To eliminate the disease, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and other health workers will identify suspected patients in every village. In schools as well, if any patches or symptoms related to leprosy are noticed on students’ bodies, they will be reported promptly.
The speakers stated that leprosy is a common bacterial disease, and if treated in time with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), a patient can be cured within six months. If any discoloured or numb patches appear on the body, people are advised not to hide the symptoms but to immediately visit the nearest health centre for treatment. MDT medicines are available free of cost at all health centres.
In the past, people suffering from leprosy faced social stigma and discrimination, but such conditions no longer exist. Everyone can sit, eat, and interact with patients without hesitation or fear. The invited community leaders, traditional healers, and village guides were advised to encourage patients who approach them to seek proper treatment at health centres and to rely only on the quality medicines available there for complete cure.
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