Saraikela: January 30 is observed as Anti Leprosy Day coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary. It was Gandhiji who wanted an India free of the disease. He worked among the lepers and served them and urged worker towards ending the misconcepts about the people stricken by the disease.
Civil Surgeon Dr Amarendra Nath Dey presided a meeting at the Sadar Hospital today to commence a Leprosy Awareness Campaign Fortnight. Leprosy patients were presented slippers on the occasion.
The District Leprosy Department officer Dr Jujhar Majhi informed that presently, in the district 337 adults and 35 children were undergoing treatment for the disease. The maximum number of leprosy patients in the district was in Saraikela (67) and Rajnagar Block (82).
Dr Majhi said that if a person had any patches, spots or any other symptoms of the disease then he or she should immediately seek the help of ASHA or Anganwadi workers or health official for checkup.
Deputy Superintendent of Sadar Hospital B Bardi said that Anti Leprosy Day was celebrated on January 30 to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's Death Anniversary as the Father of The Nation raised his voice for wiping out leprosy from the country. "He worked and served among the lepers to help them and to repel the myth that leprosy was contagious," Dr Bardi observed.