District Collector G. Lakshmisha, DMHO M. Suhasini and other officials releasing a poster on the leprosy detection campaign, at the Collectorate in Vijayawada on Monday.

NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha appealed to the public to cooperate with the health department employees conducting a survey across the district to identify people with leprosy.

Releasing a poster on the campaign, which began on Monday (January 20), at the Collectorate in Vijayawada, Mr. Lakshmisha said leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease, is curable if detected early. The District Collector said that as part of the survey, medical camps would be organised till February 2 to find people with symptoms of the disease. Those with symptoms should cooperate with the health staff, visit the nearest camp and get themselves tested, the Collector said, adding that medicines would be made available for free.

Explaining the process, District Leprosy Prevention Officer J. Usharani said ASHA workers and volunteers would initially make door-to-door visits to identify people with symptoms, such as disfiguring skin sores, red skin, light patches, lumps, and numbness in hands and feet among others. Later, data about the number of persons with symptoms would be provided to medical officers, who will conduct tests. Free medicines would be provided to patients every month for six-to-twelve months, depending on the severity of the disease, she said.

So far, 54 cases have been identified in the district, she added. District Medical and Health Officer M. Suhasini and other officials were present.