Leprosy: the social numbness

“Serving a leper is my lifetime mission”
– Mahatma Gandhi.

So how many doctors know the treatment regimen for leprosy? How many doctors know the exact prevalence of leprosy? How many doctors ever treated leprosy? How many doctors can heal or palliate the numb & neglected ulcer over a leper’s foot? How many policy makers can answer – why only the hardworking farm labourer from Dindori district had to undergo the working hand amputation, which made him disable?

The problem with leprosy is that it doesn’t cause death. And is an ancient disease. And many of us think that it’s prevalence is now negligible with the improved standard of living. And it doesn’t usually affect the rich people or even middle class people. And many people think that having a numb hand or foot is not such a big deal. And in fact, there is shortage of doctors & qualified health personnel who can manage leprosy & lepers with true empathy & care. And the biggest problem is that it affects the neglected people who are absolutely not important for the ‘Growth & Development’ of our nation. So, leprosy is the ” Neglected disease of the Most Neglected People ” of India.

One incidence which I want to share:
I met a leper who was threshing the paddy of his landlord with the help of bulls at Jakadbandha village in Chhattisgarh. We requested him to give 15 minutes for check-up, but he continued his work with more speed. He was barefoot & had big non healing ulcers over both soles. I asked him, “why don’t you wear footwear?” He replied quietly that he has both of his feet totally numb. So being painless, he finds no reason to waste money on footwear. He had received anti-leprosy treatment only for 1 month, that too 7 years ago. On asking the reason, he answered that he has problems with his daily bread & butter, he couldn’t afford the anti-leprosy treatment for an year or two, that too not ensuring the complete cure.

Many other people have similar types of stories deep & frightening. Many people lose their hands, feet, eyes, fingers toes, nose & even “Hopes” because of leprosy. Many lepers lives entire life with debilities. In many parts of India, people abandon the lepers even now, with no sympathy – Empathy is a distant thing. There is a huge socioeconomic loss associated with leprosy. In true sense, Leprosy is a perfect example of “Disease of Inequality “.

Unfortunately, our government is also nowadays, not giving much attention to leprosy. Also, very few people at present with their little voice, raise this issue or makes a public appeal regarding leprosy. May be, the “Mycobacterium leprae” infected our government & in fact all of us & made us numb in a true sense.

Don’t know whether we will get inspired by Baba Amte, but the fact is we will require thousands of Baba Amte to eliminate the leprosy a generation or two later