Delhi Govt to hold competition to generate awareness for leprosy

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) To generate awareness regarding leprosy amongst the general public in Delhi, especially in the young generation, the Delhi Government proposes to hold a painting competition for leprosy in various schools and colleges as well as localities of Delhi this month.

Making this announcement at a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, the Health Minister said,''the painting competition is aimed at allaying all ambiguous doubts from the minds of general public and let them know that it is fully curable and that treatment is available at all health facilities free of cost.'' All Heads of institutions participating in this competition, titled 'Kal Aaj Aur Kal', would be requested to organise this competition in their respective institutions at a convenient date suited to them before January 25 and forward 20 entries adjudged best to this Directorate on or before January 28.

All such best entries when received in this Directorate will be further scrutinised by a panel of judges for the purpose of award.

While the winner of the first prize will be awarded Rs 10,000, the second prize winner will get Rs 5,000 and the third prize winner Rs 3,000.

Fifteen consolation prize winners will get Rs 1000 each.

The awards will be distributed in a public function. An advertisement to this effect has been floated in leading newspapers and other local newspapers in Hindi and English.

There is no age bar to participate. The people from the community can also participate by sending their painting directly to State Leprosy Officer well before January 28.

Mr Shastri said at present, the National Leprosy Eradication Programme is adopting a passive case detection method for Leprosy.

''As such, through IEC a good awareness regarding leprosy can be generated amongst the masses, especially among the young generation,'' Mr Shastri said.

''Delhi has an approx population of 1.75 crore and through this painting competition, our aim is to generate community awareness since school children, college students and inmate of juvenile homes and members of the general public will participate leading to Vibrant success to this programme,''the Minister added.

The Health Minister said the Leprosy situation in Delhi is little different from other states. As on April 1 last year, there were 2641 cases undergoing treatment for leprosy in 340 health care facilities (hospitals and dispensaries) of Delhi. During the year (from April 1 onwards) some 2249 more new cases (22 per cent females, 5 per cent children and 7 per cent with deformities) were detected till November 30 last year.

Of these, 58 per cent cases were from outside Delhi mainly from UP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Mr Shastri said this overwhelming migration of people from adjoining states to Delhi is due partly to very good health care services to people and also good basic amenities in the state.

''Delhi has already achieved the level of elimination of leprosy.

Present leprosy prevalence is 0.77/10000 population, as against the national rate of 0.80/10000 population.

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