NHRC advisory on Leprosy 73 fresh cases in Jmu, CS to take stock, submit report in 3 months

44 families living in Bhagwati Nagar’s Leprosy Home, 101 in Srinagar

In the wake of advisory issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the Centre, states and union territories, listing "discriminating legal provisions" against leprosy-affected persons in 97 laws of the country, and called for their removal, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta will be revieweing the status of the same and has to submit a comprehensive report in three-month time frame.
The NHRC in a statement has also called for timely identification, treatment and for elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.
The NHRC, headed by justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra, has issued the advisory with several recommendations including that the Union government should consider enacting a law to provide for substitution of "derogatory terms" used to describe persons affected by leprosy.
“The J&K UT is low endemic but the prevalence rate in Kashmir division is still lesser (Prevalence Rate (PR/10000) of Kashmir Division at present is 0.02% and Annual New Case Detection Rate (ANCDR /100000) is 0.19%),” a health official dealing with leprosy cases revealed to ‘The News Now’.
He further disclosed that as far as the Jammu division is concerned, around 73 new cases have been reported in 2021, which are under treatment in addition to the 44 families living in the Bhagwati Nagar based Leprosy Home (Kusht Ashram).
At the Srinagar based Leper hospital, 101 inmates are under treatment out of which 80 are old patients and 20 patients of them are their contacts.
“These inmates are being provided with facilities like supportive medicine, self care kit, clothing, meals and accommodations,” he said.
The advisory statement however, has listed discriminating legal provisions against the leprosy affected persons in 97 laws of the country and called for their removal, adding, “the advisory has provided for ensuring that no person suffering from leprosy or any of his family members is discriminated against and denied all or any of the right to healthcare, employment, education and land rights.”
To raise awareness about the fact that leprosy is fully curable and a person suffering from the leprosy no longer remains contagious after receipt of first dose of MDT and may lead a normal married life, can have children, can take part in social events and go to work or school, college as normal, the Commission calls to organize awareness programs by involving print and electronic media, grassroots-level functionaries and civil society organizations, the rights panel said.
“To raise awareness about the fact that leprosy is fully curable and a person suffering from the leprosy no longer remains contagious after receipt of first dose of MDT and may lead a normal married life, can have children, can take part in social events and go to work or school/college as normal, the Commission calls to organize awareness programs by involving print and electronic media, grass root level functionaries and civil society organizations,” it said.
The State/UT Governments should establish a helpline to ensure prompt reporting and medical attention to new cases of leprosy as well as development of acute signs and symptoms of lepra reaction/new nerve function impairment in existing patients; ensure availability of adequate stock of drugs and other accessories including the MDT drugs for treatment and management of leprosy and associated complications; make efforts to provide and expand mobile based tele-consultation services to persons affected by leprosy; provide due attention to ensure that persons affected by leprosy are provided with BPL card, Aadhar card, Job card and other identity proofs on priority to facilitate such persons to avail benefit of Government run welfare schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), MGNREGA etc.
Recently, a core group on health, under the NHRC, had expressed serious concerns on the problems faced by leprosy-affected people and those hit by mental health problems which got aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic.