Spread awareness on curability of leprosy, end discrimination: SC
New Delhi, Sep 14 : The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that awareness be spread about the free treatment available to cure leprosy and directed the central and state governments to formulate rehabilitation schemes for those suffering from the disease.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud issued a slew of directions to the Centre and the states and asked them to ensure proper treatment of leprosy patients and end discrimination against them.
The bench also said that the stigma against leprosy patients must end.
It directed that a "massive" awareness campaign be carried out by the government on curability of leprosy, adding that patients "should not be isolated" by the family or community.
"Awareness campaigns must include information that a person affected by leprosy is not required to be sent to any special clinic or hospital or sanatorium and should not be isolated from the family members or the community. The campaigns should inform that a person affected with leprosy can lead a normal married life, can have children, can take part in social events and go to work or school as normal. Acceptability of leprosy patients in the society would go a long way in reducing the stigma attached to the disease," read the judgement.
The bench said awareness should be spread about the free availability at all government health care facilities in the country and there should be information about people who were cured of leprosy.
All-year awareness campaigns should also be run to inform the people that under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), treatment was provided free of cost to all leprosy cases, said the court.
Drugs for the management of leprosy and its complications should not go out of stock at all Primary Health Centres or public health facilities in the country.
The court wanted that both private and government aided schools should not discriminate against children hailing from leprosy affected families.
The court directed that leprosy patients should be given Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards so they can benefit from the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme, which provides highly subsidised food to the poorest families.
It told the Centre and states to undertake periodical national surveys for determining the prevalence rate of leprosy.
The judgement came on a PIL filed by advocate Pankaj Sinha, who had alleged that governments have failed to eliminate the disease despite medical treatment available since 1981.
He claimed that leprosy affects over 1.25 lakh people annually in the country and sought a direction to the governments that leprosy drugs be made available at primary health centres in the country.
Earlier, the apex court had asked the Centre to consider framing a law to repeal all laws that discriminate against those suffering from leprosy and granted six weeks to the government for taking a decision on the issue.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
