COIMBATORE: The health department is involving village-level social workers, volunteers, self-help group members, village link leaders and ASHA workers, by providing them nominal incentives, in leprosy screening campaign in the district. The campaign is part of a state-wide drive launched by the government.
Health department officers state that this approach will help manage manpower shortage and improve patient monitoring, as these workers can keep an eye on cases within their own communities. For instance, three months ago, an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker identified a new leprosy case in a remote village in Valparai region, said Dr P Sivakumari, Deputy Director of Medical Services (Leprosy) for Coimbatore district. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, leprosy is a curable disease if identified early. Patients with Paucibacillary (PB) leprosy require six months of treatment, while those with Multibacillary (MB) leprosy need treatment for one year. Under the National Leprosy Eradication Program, volunteer who identify a new case receive Rs 250, while those monitoring PB cases get Rs 450, and those assisting and monitoring MB cases receive Rs 600.
“Case identification requires both male and female workers to ensure that both genders can be examined. ASHA workers are particularly well at managing female population, but there has been a shortage of male staff. This issue was addressed at the Gram Sabha meeting held on January 26, where the need for male volunteers was explained. As a result, male volunteers from village levels have joined the initiative and are helping with the current survey. In some areas, family members of ASHA workers assist in checking the male population. This approach allows for effective leprosy management at the grassroots level, even in remote villages,” Sivakumari said.
As part of the Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC), health department is conducting intensive door-to-door checks in two villages in Coimbatore - Periyapothu in the Anaimalai block and Somanur in Sulur block, which have been identified as hot spots. This survey began after several new cases were detected and will continue until the end of the month. Through this initiative, four additional new cases have already been identified in these areas. “After a new case is identified, we conduct a survey of 250 houses in the surrounding area, which covers approximately 1,300 people. We also implement Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for 12 houses nearby to help prevent or control the spread of infection. Currently, we have around 1,300 existing cases, all would be closely monitored.”