Rajbiraj/Siraha, January 29

Leprosy patients are on the rise in Siraha and Saptari districts at a time when various awareness raising programmes regarding the disease are being periodically organised across the country.

As many as 38 new leprosy patients have been recorded in Saptari district so far this fiscal. This data was revealed at a function organised to commemorate Martyrs’ Day and World Leprosy Day in Rajbiraj today.

Speaking at the programme, District Public Health Officer of Rajbiraj Chhedi Yadav informed about the situation, various preventive measures against the disease, mitigation measures and various programmes launched by the state to prevent the disease.

Of the 38 new leprosy patients recorded in the district, 27 are women. According to Yadav, as many as 49 old leprosy patients are receiving treatment at various health facilities while 44 have completed their course of treatment. A total of 1,263 new leprosy patients have been recorded in the eastern region. Of them, 682 have completed their treatment course while 581 are undergoing treatment. Of the total patients, 313 are females while the remaining 950 are males, as per the eastern regional health directorate Dhankuta. The number of leprosy patients in the region has increased by 11.81 per cent while the increment rate is 5.6 per cent in Saptari.

Meanwhile, 38 physically handicapped people in Saptari were provided wheel-chairs and tricycles. Lawmaker Ranju Jha handed over the chairs and tricycles to handicapped people of Farsaid, Rajbiraj, Kabilasa, Boriya, Belahi, Malahaniya, Inaruwa and Sakarapur among other VDCs of Saptari.

Similarly, 29 new leprosy patients were recorded in Siraha district this fiscal.

Speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of Leprosy Day at Siraha’s Golbazaar today, Leprosy Officer Umesh Yadav of District Public Health Office Siraha said the district registered 29 leprosy patients this year.

Of them, 15 are females and 14 are males. With this, the total number of people infected with the disease stands at 101 in the district. Yadav said the district had registered 32 new cases of leprosy last fiscal.

According to District Public Health Office, Siraha, as many as 84 leprosy patients are currently receiving treatment at various health facilities for free. Yadav said lack of awareness among the Dalit community that leprosy can be cured if treated on time had caused the patients to not visit hospitals for treatment. Yadav said preparations were under way to identify leprosy patients in 47 VDCs of Siraha.