The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad today convened a meeting here to review preparedness for Sparsh Leprosy awareness campaign in the district. The meeting discussed preparations for the fortnight long awareness campaign to be observed from 30th January to 13th Feb. While highlighting the importance of the Leprosy campaign, the DC stressed on creating proper awareness for self-reporting, timely diagnosis and complete MDT treatment of leprosy cases which is crucial for ultimate eradication of the disease. He said the thrust of this campaign is to promote community participation to reorient the delivery of the service of diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in its early stages from the centralized top-down delivery driven approach to decentralized community based demand-driven approach.The DC on the occasion stressed on the Health Department to create awareness for the eradication of disease from the district and said that Leprosy disease is totally curable at all stages and is not a communicable disease and signs and symptoms help to detect the Leprosy cases. He said that the disease is a common infection like other infections and is as curable as others.
He stressed on involving Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) to help in removing the stigma and discrimination associated with persons affected with this disease. He said the community should be involved to remove the common myths related to leprosy.Dr Owais assured every assistance from the district administration in making the campaign a success.The meeting also discussed preparations for Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme scheduled to be held on 31st January (Sunday) in all blocks of the district.It was given out that the district administration has a target population of 62000 children of the age 0-5 years who shall be given the polio vaccine at 340 vaccination centres established in the district.Meanwhile, the DC directed the concerned to ensure that all the required facilities are made available at designated Pulse Polio booths for smooth conduct of the programme. He also appealed to the general public to get their children immunized on Sunday.The meeting among others was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Chief Medical Officer Bashir Ahmad, District Social Welfare Officer, District Immunologist NCD, District Coordinator NCD.