AMARPUR, Jan 31 (TIWN): Gomati District level Anti Leprosy Day organized at Natun Nagar Community Hall by Gomati District Health Administration. They also had undertaken the leprosy survey to detect leprosy patients in Tirthamukh & Natunbazar areas under Amarpur Sub Division.

“Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a slow multiplying bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes. Leprosy is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT)”. In order to find out any hidden patient, the District has conducted door –to – door survey, said Dr. Niru Mohan Jamatia, District Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Debashis Das, District Health Officer who is also the Programme Officer of Leprosy told that as soon as, Natunbazar Rural Hospital and Tirthamukh PHC has confirmed one patient showing positive smears at site of body as grouped as having multibacillary leprosy, Gomati District has launched the door – to – door leprosy survey in 362 families at Mukchari ADC Village under Tirthamukh areas. District has conducted this exercise at ten island hamlets of the village Gomati bari, Tanurampara, Bhuisya para, Sushen para, Laxmindhar Para, Karmadhan Para, Chitta Para, Rashanadhan para, chaplin chara located in bank of Gomati River Basin covering total 1710 population.

Informing about the details of survey, Dr. Sourav Bhowmik, Medical Officer In Charge of Tirthamukh PHC told that 3 more leprosy patients have been identified during the survey. Thus the total numbers of leprosy patient in Mukchari village has been increased to four. Amongst them, two patients infected with Paucibacillary leprosy group, a symptom showing skin smears negative, are women and two others are multibacillary leprosy are male patients. Out of four patients one is 12 years old girl. One more patient is suspected of PB which is being confirmed by the department.

All confirmed patients have been given Multidrug therapy immediately, informed Dr. Subhendu Debbarma, SDMO of Amarpur Sub Division, as untreated leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes.

Three days survey, started from 26^th December, has given good result. Along with survey, the Department has conducted interpersonal communication on the issues of malaria, immunization, communicable diseases like diarrhoea. Dr. Kallol Kr. Roy, District Health & Family Welfare Officer told that all families were sensitized on preventive measures of water borne and vector borne diseases, benefits of institutional delivery and immunisation. During the survey, 24 children have also been vaccinated.

The entire survey was led by District Chief Medical Officer, Medical Officer Incharge of Natunbazar RH & Tirthamukh PHC. Four teams were formed to conduct the survey in different areas at a time followed by re-orientation on leprosy to all team members of survey imparted by Dr. Manas Bhattacharyee, State NLEP Officer at CMO Office.  Dr. Milan Bhakta Jamatia, MOIC of Natunbazar RH told that such survey will also be conducted at Natunbazar in first week of February,2017