Disability Management an Self Care Training (For people affected by Leprosy) - DMST

Leprosy is still a burden for society. Every year an average of 1,20,000 new cases are registered in India. Treating the Disease is easy. But the Disabilities once occur are permanent. Even though the Micro Bacterium Lepre Basally is completely arrested, the person who is deformed must undergo all the repercussions of the same for his/her lifetime. To maintain these disabilities and deformities, one must depend upon medical support. For example, the redcurrant of Ulcers is a common phenomenon. They need bandage cots, dressing material and antibiotics to heal them. Secondly, they need customised footwear made with Micro Cellular Rubber to protect their sensitive feet. As per the protocol every person affected by Leprosy must be supplied with 2 pairs of MCR footwear every year.

The mobile team consists of a physiotherapist, dresser and cobbler visit the service delivery points to provide medical services and to conduct training sessions. The people affected by Leprosy attend at their nearest service delivery point. If the persons are immovable, the team visits their doorstep. While visiting the dresser provides dressing to their existing ulcers after soaking, and scraping. He also provides oiling. The physiotherapist provides training on self-care to protect their deformed feet, hands and eyes. He also gives training on dressing for themselves and for the family members. The cobbler takes the measurements for preparing customised footwear and the same will be supplied after manufacturing them. Thus the team covers all the people affected by Leprosy in the 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Stigma is still prevailing in society. In the past, the people affected by Leprosy were treated as untouchable. The normal outlook of the public is that Leprosy is more infectious. So many research papers have proven that Leprosy is the least infectious disease. Now the MDT treatment can arrest the bacilli at any stage. Now the infection rate is almost negligible. But still, these people are living in isolation in various leprosy colonies and are unable to live their lives with dignity. The physical deformities due to Leprosy are resulting in social discrimination.

If they are provided with continuous medical support to have early healing of their ulcers, they can have a better livelihood. They can be integrated into normal society if they look normal. The regular management of their disabilities can allow them to get their social rights like normal citizens.

This contribution helps them to have continuous medical support and can save them from the deterioration of their existing deformities.