Vice President confers International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, 2021

Vice President recently conferred the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, 2021 to Dr. Bhushan Kumar of Chandigarh and Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust, Gujarat.

About the International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy award:

• The annual award has been instituted by Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation to recognise the work of individuals and organisations who have worked tirelessly to fight this disease and the prejudices associated with it.
• The award commemorates the compassion that Gandhiji possessed and the service he rendered toward people afflicted with leprosy.

About Leprosy:

• Leprosy also known as Hansen’s disease (HD) is a chronic infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis.
• Leprosy is not highly infectious. It is transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases.
• Leprosy is curable with the combination of drugs known as Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT).

World Health Organisation’s Global Leprosy Strategy (2016): The key interventions as provided in the Strategy include:

• Detecting cases early before visible disabilities occur with a special focus on children as a way to reduce disabilities and reduce transmission;
• Targeting detection among higher risk groups through campaigns in highly endemic areas or communities; and
• Improving health care coverage and access for marginalized populations among others.