Community care of the physically disabled due to leprosy

Leprosy Mailing List – November 7th, 2011 

Ref.:   “Community care of the physically disabled due to leprosy”

From: S Deepak, Bologna, Italy

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Dear Salvatore,

I would like to thank Dr Ganapati for sharing the interesting paper about “community care for large number of persons with disabilities due to leprosy in Thane district of India” (LML Nov. 2^nd, 2011).  I have a few questions to him for a better understanding of this paper:

(1) The first phase of the project identified around 3000 persons with disabilities due to leprosy – does that include persons with WHO grade 1 disabilities (loss of sensation without visible disabilities)?

(2) In the second phase and third phase of the project, Dr Ganapati mentions identification of “500 patients” and “140 patients” – are these persons with disabilities due to leprosy or they also persons who need anti-leprosy treatment?

(3) In phase 3, what kind of staff was used for door-to-door delivery of home care? Were they professionals like physiotherapists or specialized staff? These were employed specifically by the project?

In their activities, the paper mentions different interventions but does not say anything on self-care.  Was teaching self-care part of the activities?

I understand that the paper is providing an overview but it will be interesting to understand the role played by persons affected with leprosy themselves, their families and communities in these activities.

I have some doubts about the feasibility of such level of activities being carried out by PHC staff as part of their routine work and opinion of Dr Ganapati on this issue will be useful.

Finally, were there activities related to other problems faced by persons affected with leprosy in this project such as related to social exclusion, poverty, etc.?

With best wishes,

Sunil

Dr. Sunil Deepak

AIFO, Bologna, Italy