Definition of leprosy faulty: experts

[Khushboo]

BUTWAL, Speakers at a programme here said the definition and explanation of leprosy in laws and dictionaries need to be corrected as it is no more an incurable disease.

Speaking at a two-day workshop held for women suffering from leprosy, the speakers said the definition of leprosy as a maharog (king of plagues) in dictionaries is flawed. Likewise the Civil Code provision that allows a man divorce if the wife is suffering from leprosy is discriminatory.

They said while incurable diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer and Hepatitis B have not been defined as maharog, but leprosy, which can be cured with just six months of medication, has been defined as maharog in the dictionary. Social stigma attached with leprosy has still been forcing leprosy patients to hide their disease and stay inside the house rather than visiting the hospital, they said.

They called on journalists to work for shedding the negative stigma and superstition existing among the people about the disease, which is considered a result of some curse or a sin.

The progrmmme was attended by 3o women from Nawalparasi, Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi and Rupnadehi.

Meanwhile in Nawalparasi, for the cause of oral hygiene three doctors have set on a Mechi to Mahakali bicycle tour with the theme 'Brush Your Teeth after Food and Maintain Oral Hygiene' under the National Toothbrush Campaign.

The three dentists Dr. Dinesh Sharma Bhusal, Dr. Ujjawal Joshi and Dr. Bodh Bikram Karki who had reached here from Kakadbhitta of Jhapa district in east Nepal set out for the next leg of their journey towards Mahakali yesterday.

The objective of the Mechi-Mahakali bicycle tour, according to the doctor trio, is to raise public awareness on oral hygiene. Their tour started from Kakadbhitta on March 12.

So far they have completed 564 kilometres of their journey. The doctors plan to educate some 8,000 school children about dental hygiene in course of their tour.

In this connection, they have carried out dental examination of 1,500 students and educated them about oral hygiene.

Meanwhile in Madhyapur Thimi, three hundred and forty-two people were provided with free health check up services at a day-long health camp jointly organized by Siddhartha Academy English School, Maheshwaristhan and Nepal CMA Association Bhaktapur.

Medicines worth Rs. 33,000 was also distributed free of cost to the patients on the occasion.

A four-member team led by Dr. Ujjwal Prajapati rendered free check-up services at the camp. General health check up, ENT, respiratory, dermatological, obstetrics and dental check up was carried out on the patients.

Doctors said a majority of the patients coming up for health check-up at the camp were found to be suffering from gastrological diseases resulting from contaminated water.