GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
                                     DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRINTING
                                                                        // NAHARLAGUN //

NO.IPR(PR)-86/2002                                                                                       Dated Naharlagun, the 30th January, 2003.

                                                                         PRESS RELEASE

MARTYRS’ DAY OBSERVED

The Martyrs’ Day was observed today on 30th January 2003 in all the offices of Bomdila by observing two minutes silence in the memory of martyrs who laid down their life for the freedom of our country. The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Bomdila observed the day as Anti Leprosy Day at District Hospital, Bomdila, which was attended by NGOs and public along with health personnel. Exhibition, seminar and discussion on leprosy were conducted on the day, in which, doctors, medical specialists, medical staffs and public took part. Booklets on leprosy were also distributed. The observation  started with two minutes silence followed by welcome address by Dr. Dani Duri, District Medical Officer, Bomdila. Highlighting on the background of the anti- Leprosy  day, the DMO said the campaign to eradicate leprosy was started by Mahatma Gandhi. He
called upon the health family to dedicate themselves, on the day of his death anniversary, to stamp out the disease. Dr. Duri added that elimination of  leprosy  will be achieved by making MDT accessible to all communities and areas, treating all
registered cases with MDT, diagnosing and promptly treating all new cases,  improving quality of patient care, including disability prevention and management, ensuring regularity and completion of treatment and enlisting community support for the
programme. Dr. N.Lowang, District Family Welfare Officer, Bomdila while briefing on Nation Leprosy Programme (NLP) informed that NLP was started in 1954-55. Under these  anti leprosy programmes, around three hundred control units and three thousand Survey Education and Treatment (SET) Centres are set up. In the district there is one Control center at district headquarters; Bomdila and three SET centers; Dirang, Kalaktang and Nafra. Earlier, Dr. T.C. Khrime, Medical Specialist cum Superintendent, District  Hospital, Bomdila spoke on the diagnosis of the leprosy, symptoms etc. Detailing on the diagnosis part, he said that a case of leprosy is a person, having one or more of the following, who has yet to complete a full course of treatment; hypopigmented  or reddish skin lesion(s) with definite loss of sensation, damage to the peripheral nerves, as demonstrated by loss of sensation and weakness of the muscles of  hands, feet or face and positive skin smears. Mr. S.Das, Non-Medical Supervisor (NMS) deliberated a lecture on treatment of the leprosy, which was followed by group discussion. The discussion, where some doubts, even of the medical staffs where cleared was appreciated by all. The meeting concluded with a speech by Dr. (Mrs.) Gom Lhamu, Gynaecologist, District hospital, Bomdila.



                                    ATUM
                    DIPRO, BOMDILA