‘CARE’ after ‘CURE’ of leprosy patients need more attention

According to the 2011 National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP) estimate, there are about 1 million ‘Cured’ leprosy patients living with visible deformity to which few thousand cases are added every year.

As shown by the statistics, it is well conceived that ‘cured’ leprosy patients with deformity in particular are in need of continued ‘care’ under the supervision of technical experts.

Our experience from Panvel Taluka reveals that RFT patients with deformity live a very poor quality life largely due to lack of appropriate ‘care’. Among the 76 RFT patients interviewed and examined in parts of one PHC area (APTA-PHC) 30 (40%) had multiple deformity, most common being complicated foot problems and planter ulcers.

In the NLCP program Patients are advised ‘self care’ or to report to Leprosy Referral Centers (LRC) for other special problems.

There are certain factors that were not taken into account. For one, quality of life is not great at all. These patients are often subjected to severely un-hygienic living conditions and often face serious stigmatization and discrimination against them. Furthermore, transport facilities are not made easily available to them, owing to low social acceptance and lack of appropriate levels of care and concern. Socially, life is adversely affected especially at crucial times such as when seeking quality education, looking for a accepting partner to get married to and even at times, not being allowed to enter religious places! Physically, the neauropathic pains (nociceptive pain in particular) tend to have an impact on the quality of life.

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Foundation for Medical Research practices a combination of basic biomedical and translational research. Our traditional research areas are leprosy, tuberculosis and medicinal plants.

If you want to read more about what we do, then have a look at www.fmrindia.org