Dimapur’s migrant population snags Nagaland’s leprosy-free tag

A recent meeting of officials engaged in anti-leprosy campaigns have thrown up a startling revelation that while Nagaland was one of the first states in India to have eliminated leprosy, the existence of a ‘migrant population’ in Dimapur has placed the disease ‘above the elimination status.’

The district coordination committee for Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) for Dimapur district was conducted on August 30 in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner of Dimapur. The meeting was presided over by the deputy commissioner of Dimapur Kesonyu Yhome.

During the meeting, the chief medical officer of Dimapur, Dr. Vikato, informed that there were about 64 leprosy cases in Dimapur district. He informed that health workers in the medical blocks have been ‘sensitized’ about how to diagnose leprosy cases, the medical officer said.

Leprosy officer Dr. Ahu Sekhose also said during the meeting that 163 districts covering 20 states in the country have been selected for the LCDC. For the state of Nagaland, Dimapur district has been shortlisted.

Also, Dr. Sekhose informed that although Nagaland happens to be the first state in the country to have achieved the ‘leprosy eliminated state’ tag, owing to a migrant population, the prevalence rate of leprosy in Dimapur district ‘is above the elimination status.’ For this reason, Dimapur district has been selected for conducting LCDC, he said.

The LCDC is basically an intensive survey to detect hidden cases of leprosy, he said. He was of the view that people do not come forward for voluntary check up for leprosy due to the stigma involved. Dr. Sekhose also said that leprosy was completely curable if detected within 6 to 12 months. He informed the public about the availability of leprosy treatment, for free, in all the government health centres in Nagaland.

The deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Kesonyu, has assured to extend all possible help from the district administration for the successful conduct of the LCDC. He urged the departments to consider the work as “a social issue” and to give their best efforts for the benefit of the public.

(Al Ngullie, August 30, 2016; Eastern Mirror)

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