Berhampur: The number of leprosy patients in Ganjam district has gone up, a report said. At least 341 new patients were identified in rural areas of the district when a leprosy detection programme was conducted recently.
According to sources, patients are being administered medicines under multi-drug therapy (MDT) programme of the health department and their health is being checked up and counseling done at regular intervals. Maximum number of patients have been detected in Beguniapada, Khallikote and Digapahandi blocks.
Leprosy detection programme was conducted at the block level between September 10 and September 23. Asha workers moved from door to door and detected leprosy-affected people in the first phase. A list of such people was prepared.
Later on, local medical officers and district level officials conducted a thorough inspection of patients and health of 31,74,536 people was checked up under this exclusive drive for rural areas.
Initially, Asha workers had suspected 6,547 leprosy patients in rural areas out of which 341 were confirmed. Out of this, 22 were children. Moreover, 163 patients are known to be in the first stage of leprosy while 178 others are in the advanced stage.
A similar leprosy detection programme will also be conducted at 18 urban areas of the district from October 14. It is apprehended that once the programme is concluded the total number of leprosy patients in the district may go up.
