Chhattisgarh likely to become leprosy-free state

In last 11 years, the prevalence rate of leprosy in state had come down from 8.2 per 10,000 persons to 2.21 per 10,000 persons

The campaign launched by the Chhattisgarh government to eradicate leprosy from the state had been evoking positive response with prevalence rate coming down drastically over a period of one decade.

According to officials in the health department, the "multi-drug treatment system" had yielded promising results in curing leprosy patients. "In last 11 years, the prevalence rate of leprosy in Chhattisgarh had come down from 8.2 per 10,000 persons to 2.21 per 10,000 persons," the officials added.

Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh had directed the health department to give top priority to the campaign that would make Chhattisgarh a leprosy-free state.

All the government hospitals in the state had been equipped with the facility of free treatment to the person infected with the disease. The patients with deformity due to leprosy had been provided the facility of free operation and the department had installed modern equipment in the government hospital for the same. "The state government is providing financial aid of Rs 8000 for the surgical interference," the official added.

The officials informed that in last nine years, about 2000 leprosy patients had been operated. Nine out of the 27 districts of in the state including Mahasamund, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Bilaspur, BalodaBazar-Bhatapara, Durg, Korba and Kabeerdham (Kawardha) had higher prevalence rate compared to other districts.