The services rendered by the Schieffelin Institute of Health-Research and Leprosy Centre (SIHRLC), Karigiri in the reduction in the incidence of leprosy in the community, transformation in the lives of leprosy patients through reconstructive surgery and the removal of the social stigma against leprosy-cured persons were recalled by speakers at the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the institute held at its premises in Karigiri near Katpadi on Saturday.
B. Senguttuvan, Vellore MP who was the chief guest said that at a time when there was a social stigma against the leprosy-afflicted, persons like Dr. Paul W. Brand, Dr. R.G. Cochrane and Dr. Herbert Gass, the founders of SIHRLC (then known as Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Centre) and late Director Dr. Fritschi caused a transformation in the lives of leprosy-afflicted persons through reconstructive surgery.
Guard needed
Though leprosy has been eradicated thanks to the efforts of such stalwarts, the central and state governments cannot afford to lower the guard against leprosy since the disease might come back in some other form, he said.
Mannam Ebenezer, Director, SIHRLC said that in the field area, the prevalence of leprosy was brought down from 250 per 10,000 in the 1950s to one per 10,000 in the 1990s, whereas the entire country achieved this only in 2005. After six decades, more than 60 per cent of villages in the control area which had new cases are free of leprosy now.
Over the last 60 years, research was carried out contributing tremendously to the understanding of the disease, development of methods to treat leprosy as well as control the disease in the communities.
Reconstructive surgery
“Notable among the achievements are reconstructive surgery for hands and feet, microcellular rubber for feet without sensation, evolution of best practices in treatment of leprosy and its complications, establishing leprosy control over a defined geographical area and rehabilitation of patients back into the communities”, he said.
P.S.S. Sundar Rao, former Director of SIHRLC said that ‘go to the people, live among them, love them and learn from them’ was the concept behind the success story of the Karigiri Hospital.
While leprosy was once a deforming, disabling, de-habilitating and destroying disease, the scenario was transformed through the efforts of Dr. Paul Brand who found that leprosy is a bone and nerve disease and not a skin disease.
Today, despite the availability of multi-drug therapy, much more has to be done to completely eradicate the disease, he said.
Ken Gibson, Chief Executive of The Leprosy Mission, Ireland said that SIHRLC is recognised as one of the foremost research institutions in the field of leprosy the world over thanks to the efforts of persons like Dr. Brand who by their motivation and compassion to the leprosy-afflicted transformed their lives.
Mr. Senguttuvan released a book on Dr. Paul Brand authored by Mr. Gibson. Dr. C.E. Eapen, Medical Superintendent, Christian Medical College, Vellore, released the diamond jubilee souvenir. Daniel K. Mani, Deputy Director, SIHRLC welcomed the gathering. A.J. Samraj, Administrative Manager proposed a vote of thanks.
