Health experts at a post-rally discussion laid importance on creating adequate social awareness to prevent the infectious disease of leprosy.
They came up with the opinion at a discussion organised by the Civil Surgeon Office with assistance of the Leprosy Mission International- Bangladesh (LMIB) at conference room of Sadar Hospital in Rangpur in observance of the 65th World Leprosy Day- 2018.
Earlier, a huge colourful rally participated by physicians, officials and employees of the district health department, Nilphamari office of LMIB, different NGOs and volunteer organisations, was brought out in the city streets.
The day was observed with the theme of “Zero Disability in Girls and Boys Affected by Leprosy” in Rangpur as elsewhere in the country and the world as a whole.
Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam attended the discussion as the chief guest with Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Abdul Mokaddes in the chair.
Sadar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Rabi Sankar Mandal, Leprosy Specialists of LMIB Surendra Nath and Krishna Chandra Roy and Programme Officer at Civil Surgeon Office SM Liyakat Hossain, addressed, among others.
Medical Officer (Child) at Nilphamari LIMB Hospital Dr Abu Sufian delivered keynote essay in the discussion narrating the symptoms of leprosy caused by Mycobacterium ‘leprae’ involving the skin and peripheral nerves.
He said leprosy still remains poorly understood and often feared by the general public and even by some in the healthcare professions, although it is not highly contagious and it has very effective treatment available.
“Though the infection is highly responsive to treatment, disabilities of the eyes, hands, and feet due to neuropathy are often not reversible and may require lifelong care and rehabilitation,” he added.
In their speech, the speakers put maximum emphasis on early diagnosis of the disease and said that full course treatment of leprosy is crucial for preventing lifelong neuropathy and disability.
The chief guest called upon officials and employees of the departments of health and family planning, NGOs and voluntary organisations, public representatives, religious and community leaders for creating public awareness to prevent leprosy.
