Dimapur, August 31 (DIPR): There are around 64 leprosy cases in Dimapur district, informed Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dimapur, Dr. Vikato during a meeting of the district coordination committee for Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) on August 30.
He further said that the LCDC to be held from September 5 to 18 will show the number of leprosy cases. To carry out the campaign which is basically a house to house campaign, doctors and ASHAs in all the medical blocks have been sensitized on how to diagnose leprosy cases, the CMO added.
State Leprosy Officer Dr. Ahu Sekhose, while addressing the meeting held at Deputy Commissioner’s office here, said that 163 districts covering 20 states in the country have been selected for LCDC and Dimapur district has been shortlisted in Nagaland. Dr. Ahu informed that although Nagaland happens to be the first state in the country to have achieved Leprosy eliminated state, owing to the fact that there is a number of migrant population, the prevalence rate of leprosy in Dimapur district is above the elimination status. For this reason, he stated, Dimapur district has been selected for conducting LCDC.
He further said that LCDC is basically an intensive survey exercise for detecting hidden cases of leprosy. He was of the view that people do not come forward for voluntary checkup of leprosy cases due to the stigma involved. Dr. Ahu said that leprosy is completely curable if detected within 6 to 12 months and informed the public that leprosy treatment is available free of cost in all the Government health centres in Nagaland.
Deputy Commissioner Kesonyu Yhome assured to render all possible help from the district administration for successful conduct of LCDC. He also urged upon all the departments to take it as a social issue and to give in their best effort for the benefit of the public.
