The Public Health Department is conducting a door-to-door survey in Booluvampatti block of the district to identify leprosy cases. One of the 12 blocks in the district, Booluvampatti had a leprosy rate slightly higher than the rest.
S. Palanisamy, Deputy Director of Medical Services (Leprosy), said that the block, which had a population of 1.72 lakh, had a leprosy rate of eight per 1,00,000 population, which was one higher than the other blocks. This survey was intended to identify the total number cases and ascertain reasons for this higher number. The survey is being conducted in two phases, from July 2 to 4 and July 9 to 11, lasting for six days totally. As many as 120 Health Inspectors, Village Health Nurses, Non-Medical Supervisors, Sector Health Nurses and Block Health Supervisors are conducting the survey.
Coimbatore had a leprosy rate of 45 cases per 10,000 in 1983, a figure that was on a par with the rest of State. However, with the introduction of multi-drug therapy in India in 1983 upon the recommendations of World Health Organisation, the rates began to plummet. Now, its 0.26 per 10,000.
Skin camps
Further, Dr. Palanisamy said that one-day skin camps were held across the district since June 29. All the 365 health sub-centres in Coimbatore would be covered in this campaign, which would last 15 days.
