Four new leprosy patients have been identified in the district. According to the data released by the Dadeldhura Health Office, one of them is a woman and three are men.

On the occasion of the 73rd World Leprosy Day, an interaction program was organized by the Dadeldhura Health Office with the participation of stakeholders on Sunday with the main slogan 'Leprosy is a disease, social stigma and discrimination are the main challenges'. According to the head of the office, Keshar Bahadur Saud, although leprosy is completely curable with medicine, the problem of patients not seeking treatment on time due to social stigma and discrimination still persists. 

Leprosy is a very rare disease caused by a microscopic bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae that is invisible to the eye. Although the disease can be transmitted mainly through respiratory tract infection when in close contact with an untreated leprosy patient for a long time, if the disease is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, it cannot be spread to others and if treated on time, leprosy can be completely cured and there is no disability, health workers say. 

According to the Health Office, activities such as active patient tracing programs, leprosy prevention programs, public awareness and capacity building programs, disability management and rehabilitation programs, multi-drug management, as well as regular supervision and monitoring of the programs are currently underway in the district. The office stated that services are being provided to at-risk communities through these programs.