GANDERBAL, FEBRUARY 13: The Health Department Ganderbal today organized concluding Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign programme which was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shyambir. The programme was attended by Chairman Municipal Council Ganderbal CMO Ganderbal, Dr. Afroza Shah; I/C MS DH Ganderbal, Dr. Masrat Sultana; Dy CMO Ganderbal, Dr Nighat Yasmeen; DIO Ganderbal, DrBushra Yousuf; Advocate Altaf Ahmad, Block Medical Officers, associated district staff, ASHAs and leprosy patients who have been treated or are on treatment. The DC while speaking on the occasion emphasized that the motto of father of nation Shri Mahatma Gandhi to eliminate leprosy from the country needs to be accomplished by us on a mission mode and stressed the health care workers to work with immense zeal while working for this noble cause. He further said that all though prevalence of Leprosy is less in Kashmir valley but need is to educate the people to make district Ganderbal leprosy free besides, common masses need to be educated about its treatment, prevention, social stigma discrimination with patients and other aspects related to leprosy. Earlier, The academic cum awareness activity started with an address by CMO Ganderbal wherein she apprised the participants about the status of Leprosy in District Ganderbal and the level of health care services being provided to them as per the guidelines. She apprised the DC Ganderbal that there is only one active leprosy patient in the district who is on treatment and the rest stands cured. She also expressed immense gratitude to the DC for his persistent support in improving the overall indices of various national level health programmes. The clinical aspect of leprosy and means to eliminate and augment the awareness was given by Dr. Safeena Mushtaq (District Epidemiologist NCD, CMO Office) via a power point presentation. Chairman Municipal Council on this occasion also advocated the importance of awareness on Leprosy and said that public needs to be proactive in awareness campaigns and as stakeholders we need to be torch bearers. On this occasion gift kits were distributed among leprosy treated and on treatment patients by the DC and other dignitaries. Later, an awareness rally was also organized by the CMO Ganderbal. The event was hosted by DrMansoorWani, District Epidemiologist andorganized by DPMU & IDSP Unit of Ganderbal under the supervision of CMO Ganderbal.
