Leprosy Programmes
RISDT has left no stone in the services of leprosy from day one. During these three and half decade’s journey RISDT has attended 90,149 leprosy patients (IP = 21,324 and OP = 68,825) in the district of East Godavari.
RISDT continuously approached the District Authorities to include ‘Leprosy Activities/Treatment’ in the main agenda in all the meetings and succeeded in allotting one-hour agenda in all monthly meetings. 106 such review meetings were attended by the project staffs where leprosy has been addressed with focus.
The strenuous and untired efforts of RISDT for about three and half decades attained notable results in the district of East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. We have treated 10,895 patients by supplying MDT. Identified 3238 deformity cases – out of which 894 are ulcer cases. The prevalence rate of leprosy as on 1983 is 15.5 per 10,000, which has been dropped down to <0.54 per 10,000.
Now 812 sub centres out of 841 i.e., 96.5%, are providing dressing materials like bandages, ointments, spirits etc., for ulcer care to the people affected by leprosy. 90% of the leprosy patients are now visiting their nearest medical facilities for dressing and medical aid on their own.
2385 ANMs at all Primary Health Centres were provided with the name of the people affected by leprosy living in their working area. ASHAs were involved in the formation of 361 self-care groups so far. ASHAS/ANMs started counselling about the importance of self-care practices. Now people have started coming to the sub centres, practice the self-care activities and get the required materials and go back to their communities.
As a part of DPMR Programme (Disability Prevention & Medical Rehabilitation) which has been initiated during 2007 to perform Reconstructive Surgeries to leprosy patients in the districts of Karimnagar, Warangal, of Telangana State and Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh, which has been recognized by National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP); RISDT conducted 1564 reconstructive surgeries to persons affected with leprosy for Lagophthalmos, Palsy hands and Foot drops so far.
Survey Education and Training
In 1986 SET (Survey Education Treatment) programme started in Thanuku of West Godavari District. The objective of this programme is to detect and provide medical-aid to the leprosy patients by visiting door to door and in schools/educational institutions. Under this programme RISDT personnel extensively travelled and visited door to door, inspected the people, children and provided suitable awareness about Leprosy. Supplied MDT to the old patients, conducted NFA (Nerve Function Assessment) test to the new and suspected cases and counselled about the importance of self-care, ulcer care and to avail the services of nearest government hospitals. This has been done by tying up with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. This programme was continued for three years in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. From 1989, the same SET (Survey Education Treatment) programme was started in Kathipudi of East Godavari District.
Leprosy Referral Hospital
Established one 40 bed Leprosy Control Unit for providing treatment to the Ulcer, reaction cases and other residual complications of Leprosy as ‘In-patients’ and ‘Out-patients’ as per the guidelines of NLEP (National Leprosy Eradication Programme). In the process conducting NFA test to all new cases. Providing treatment of all other general problems of leprosy affected patients. Attending general surgeries of leprosy patients. Also conducting Reconstructive Surgeries (for Eye, Hand and Foot) to leprosy patients of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States. Further, assisting Leprosy Patients in availing pensions and benefits of other rehabilitation programmes announced by State and Central Governments from time to time.
Leprosy Rehabilitation Programme
Rehabilitation of leprosy patients during treatment and after cure is one of the key aspects of leprosy care. This has been initiated by RISDT over years. Rehabilitation has several dimensions mainstreaming those affected, providing livelihoods, rebuilding hope, confidence and self-esteem. In order to strengthen financial position one rehabilitation centre was established in 1996, at Annavaram in East Godavari district of A.P. which, continues to cater to the needs of leprosy affected people in the operating area. So far as rehabilitation measures are concerned RISDT engaged in counselling & mentoring, Skill building and up-gradation in farm, off-farm and on-farm activities, providing financial and managerial assistance for entrepreneurial development and self-employment, Providing housing and arranging Pensions to the destitute etc.
DISPEL - Disability Prevention and Education in Leprosy
Prevention of disability and the management in the lives of leprosy affected patients is still an unfinished challenge in leprosy today. The number of persons with leprosy related deformities and disabilities are more than those needing treatment for the leprosy disease. The DISPEL programme has been successfully carried out in the districts of West and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. This programme has been supported by SWISS EMMAUS BERNE (now FAIRMED). This programme has been initiated in the district of West Godavari during 1999 and in 2004, the same has been started in the district of East Godavari and continued upto 2010. During this programme we have evaluated 49,979 + 31424 = 81,403 (2008 figures) cases and segregated the same as Grade-I, Grade-II and Ulcer cases. Supplied self-care kits and MCR Footwear to the needy PALs. Conducted 649 + 368 = 1017 RCS surgeries during this programme.
POID - Prevention of Impairments and Disablities
POID is an integrated programme of FAIRMED & RISDT. Specific disability prevention activities are aimed under this programme. This programme has been assures and maintains improvement in the physical and wellbeing of the persons affected by leprosy in the district of East Godavari of Andhra Pradesh (India). This programme was initiated during the year 2010 with the motto to support the leprosy patients and their families; not only supporting with medical care & treatment but supporting their well-being and lifting them from social stigma, so that, the quality of life of the leprosy affected persons is improved. The main objective of this project is to make them understand about their health condition and the consequences if proper care has not been taken. Train them with self-care practices. Make them habituated to take treatment for their ulcers, usage of MCR footwear and regular physiotherapy. Participate and avail the benefits of all Government programmes.
DPMR - Disability Prevention & Medical Rehabilitation
Government of India changed the leprosy treatment guidelines since 2005 and integrated the services in general health. Subsequently, it introduced DPMR programme. RISDT has come forward to implement this programme in five districts of undivided Andhra Pradesh namely; Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Warangal and Karimnagar covering 3000 villages. So far, we could conduct 1564 RCS surgeries (Lagophthalmos, Palsy hands and Foot-drops) to the needy leprosy patients under the strict guidelines of NLEP, which includes 1017 surgeries during DISPEL programme. For this programme State Government is providing Rs.8,000/- towards Post-Operative Monitory Benefit to the patients by crediting into their respective bank accounts directly. This programme has also been supported by SWISS EMMAUS BERNE (now FAIRMED).
CDLCP - Comprehensive District Leprosy Control Project
The CDLCP (Comprehensive District Leprosy Control Project) has started in January 2014 till 2019 (6 years). FAIRMED India implemented this project in partnership with us (RISDT – Rural India Self Development Trust, Kathipudi, East Godavari District) in association with District Leprosy Society, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh. For the implementation of this CDLCP project in East Godavari District a MoU was signed between Directorate of Health, Government of Andhra Pradesh (State Leprosy Society), RISDT and Swiss Emmaus Leprosy Relief Work India (FAIRMED India). The main objective of this project is “To improve the quality of life of the leprosy affected persons”. RISDT left no stone in achieving the goal in the operating area by visiting all the Primary Health Centres and Sub-centres. Identified the patient’s village-wise and prepared laminated sheets with name of the patient, concerned ASHA and ANM and distributed the same to all Ashas working in the district. Trained the PALS about self-care practices and counselled them to visit their nearest PH Centres for medical care. Now a days PALs are habituated to visit Government facilities for their routine treatment.
