Time to end stigma, discrimination related to leprosy – Health Secretary

Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala yesterday said that over the years, plenty of misconceptions and myths about leprosy have spread widely, increasing the need to address and end the stigma and discrimination related to this disease.

Leprosy was once feared as a highly contagious and devastating disease, but now we know that it does not spread easily and the treatment is highly effective, he said.

The Secretary was participating at the launching ceremony of the project called A2P (ACT2PREVENT CAMPAIGN 2024) was jointly implement by the National Leprosy Control Campaign and the Alliance Development Trustee (ADT ) to spread the correct information about leprosy through social media.

The A2P project is a programme jointly implemented by the Health Ministry’s National Anti-Leprosy Campaign and ADT (Alliance Development Trust). The National Leprosy Control Movement is the central organisation for the prevention of leprosy in Sri Lanka, and ADT is a non-governmental organisation that has joined hands for this.

The main purpose of this is to provide accurate data, information and awareness about the disease by spreading correct information using new methods through social media, which is a very powerful medium, and it is expected to correct the misconceptions related to the disease and refer the hidden patients for treatment as soon as possible. Another goal is to create a patient-friendly environment by reducing social isolation.

Leprosy is a disease that spreads very slowly and has not received proper attention. The wrong myths about the disease and the exclusion of those who have become sick from the society remain an unsolved problem even today. Also, those affected by the disease suffer mental breakdowns, and the weaknesses of the patients also have negative effects on the country’s economy.

The leprosy campaign was started in the year 1954 to suppress leprosy. He said that about 1,500 leprosy patients have been reported this year, and a decrease in the number of patients reported in the first quarter of 2024 is due to the various measures taken to control the disease. He also said that as soon as leprosy was identified in the health system, a large awareness campaign was launched through the media in the 1990s. He also said that a large number of patients suspected of the disease came to the clinic. He also said that high-quality treatment approved by the World Health Organisation can be obtained for six months or a year through the clinics and hospitals operated by dermatologists, and the disease can be completely cured by receiving proper treatment during that time.

National Leprosy Control Campaign Director Dr. Nirupa Pallewatta, Alliance Development Trustee Director Raghu Balachandran, Regional Health Services Director of Galle District former Leprosy Control Campaign Director Dr. K. D. N. P. Ranaweera, were present.

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