Paralytic leprosy patients left in the lurch
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 06, 2012: Though there are many paralytic leprosy patients who have made Lei Ingkhol, Chingmeirong their home, they have been left in the lurch sans any kind of assistances for their welfare and rehabilitation, courtesy the discrimination and stigmatisation.

Barring some paralysed patients who could earn some money by doing chores like making local chair (mora) or some who occasionally receive charities from individuals or organisations, most of the leprosy patients (cured but paralysed) at Lei Ingkhol cannot afford a contented meal even for a single day.

There are patients who cannot even afford two-square meals a day.

Apart from that, they have to cope with the cold during winter under trying conditions.

Not prepared to face the stigma and discrimination back home, some paralytic leprosy patients chose to stay at Lei Ingkhol though cured of the disease.

Consequently, they have to struggle on their own.

Unfortunately, the State Government is found inactive in formulating programme for the welfare and rehabilitation of paralytic patients who have been stigmatised even by their near and dear ones.

Interacting with The Sangai Express on the matter, State Leprosy Officer, Dr S Kunjakeshore said that leprosy patients were usually given treatment for six or twelve months depending on the degree of the affliction.

After administering treatment either for six or twelve months, the patients returned to their respective home.

But, patients are now treated from their home.

All the expenditures in their treatments have been borne by the Government.

However, there has been no programme to rehabilitate cured but paralysed leprosy patients, Dr Kunjakeshore admitted.

Laishram Panthoi, an octogenarian, who made Lei Ingkhol her home after being cured from leprosy told The Sangai Express that she earlier used to earn some money by doing chores like crafting local mora.

But with age catching up, her eyesight started failing her and now she cannot hear properly.

"I do not even have the strength to handle anything.

I cannot earn money now.

Left with no other options, there have been many times I use to eat only once in a day just waiting for my end to come," she pours out.

Cursing her fate, Panthoi, who was diagnosed with leprosy since she was 17 (married by then) and who had stayed at Lei Ingkhol since then chooses to meet her end there.

It may be noted that the Central Government had launched the Leprosy Control Programme in 1954-55.Till December 2011, 8410 leprosy patients have been treated.

Altogether, 22 patients from across the nine districts of Manipur have also been given home treatment by administering Multi-drug Therapy (MDT).

Among the 12 patients, three patients each were from Imphal East, Imphal West, Senapati and Thoubal districts, and one each from Bishnupur and Chandel districts; two each from Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts and four from Tamenglong district.

In olden days, the stigma attached to leprosy patients was inordinate due to blind faith that it was a disease of people who were cursed by the gods.

It is also pertinent to mention that as there was no single leprosy patient among ten thousand people each in Manipur, the State was declared to be in the 'elimination stage' of leprosy in 2001. However, with an attempt to spread awareness and identify persons with leprosy in all the districts of the State, the District Leprosy Officers, in collaboration with the State Leprosy Officer observed the Leprosy Fortnight Observance from January 30 to February 13. A home-to-home awareness campaign has also been taken up as a part of the fortnight observance programme.

Dr Kunjakeshore further said that the presence of leprosy patients in Manipur is pegged at 0.06 percent.

The disease has been eliminated through Public Health Programme.

He said that the aim of the Government of India is to totally wipe out the disease.

As such, all the districts are divided into two blocks and 'Home Search' programme has been implemented.

He said that early treatment can prevent the patients from being paralysed.

There are five paralysed patients due to leprosy at Lei Ingkhol including two paralysed women.

All of them were above 70 years of age.

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