Acting Chief of the Health Office, Tuk Prasad Pokharel, said that seven leprosy patients were found in the first six months of the fiscal year 2082/83.
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Even though Palpa was declared a leprosy-free district 16 years ago, patients are found every year. According to the data of the Palpa Health Office, 18 leprosy patients were identified across the district in the fiscal year 2081/82.
Similarly, 7 people were found in the first 6 months of the fiscal year 2082/83, said Acting Chief of the Health Office Tuk Prasad Pokharel. 21 people were taking medicine till Asad of the last fiscal year.
The Health Office has stated that 7 more people have taken medicine till Poush of this fiscal year. In Rambha and Ribdikot rural municipalities of the district, not a single leprosy patient was found in the previous and current fiscal years. One person each was found in the year before that. 'This proves that leprosy germs are present in all the municipalities of the district,' said Acting Chief Pokharel.
According to the Health Office Palpa, in the previous fiscal year, 18 leprosy patients were found, including four in Tansen Municipality, one in Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality, one in Mathagadhi Rural Municipality, three in Nisdi Rural Municipality, one in Purbakhola Rural Municipality, five in Rampur Municipality, and three in Tinau Rural Municipality.
In the first six months of the current fiscal year, two people have been found in Rampur, one in Purbakhola, one in Baganaskali, one in Rainadevi Chhahara, one in Tinau and two in Nisdi. The health office and local levels have been conducting active patient tracing, leprosy prevention programs, public awareness and capacity building programs.
The disease was also identified due to the disability management and rehabilitation program, multi-drug management program and supervision and monitoring, said Bishwanath Neupane, an officer at the health office.
The disability rate due to leprosy is still high, while the local infection rate has not decreased. According to him, social discrimination against leprosy exists. ‘The records of the leprosy program have not been corrected in the report,’ he said, ‘problems have arisen due to the lack of skilled manpower related to it as it is a low priority for the stakeholders.’
He said that it is unfortunate that the Civil Code, 2074 Family Law Chapter-1, Marriage Provisions, Chapter 71, does not allow marriage with a person suffering from leprosy. Program Officer Neupane said that there is still a superstition in the society about leprosy. He said that only treating leprosy patients like normal people through public awareness, not discriminating against them, and love and support in the family will help in eliminating leprosy.
In an interaction organized at the Health Office, Palpa on the occasion of the 73rd World Leprosy Day, he said, 'The problem is becoming complicated because leprosy patients cannot come out in the society due to discrimination and stigma.' He said that the local level should manage the budget and spread awareness about the symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of leprosy. Patients with up to five spots on the body should take medicine for 6 months and patients with more than that should take medicine for a year. Leprosy treatment is free. They get one thousand rupees for transportation expenses. He said that suspected patients should pay attention to health treatment on time.
Leprosy is a disease caused by a microscopic organism called Mycobacterium leprae, which is invisible to the eye, and is characterized by the appearance of a pale or light red spot on any part of the body that is not noticeable when touched.
Leprosy causes swelling of the face and earlobes, shiny and thick skin, and drooping eyebrows. “If the disease is not recognized and diagnosed in time, it can eventually lead to disability,” said Acting Chief Pokharel.
Leprosy affects the nerves, causing symptoms such as constant tingling in the hands and feet, swelling and pain in the nerves, inability to feel the hands and feet when touched, and weakness in the muscles. Palpa was declared a leprosy-free district on 2066 BS Magh 5.
