A nearly four-decade initiative by Tata Motors and social outfit Nav Jagrat Manav Samaj in Jharkhand’s Singbhum region towards early detection and treatment of leprosy has led to a significant reduction in the incidence of cases.

On World Leprosy Day on Saturday, Dr Sanjay Srivastava, chief of medicine, Tata Motors Hospital, and a governing committee member of the Samaj, said that their efforts had brought down the incidence of leprosy cases in Singbhum from 21 out of 1,000 in 1991 to only 0.3 out of 1,000 in 2017-18.

“We are grateful to Tata Motors for providing all support as part of its CSR initiatives. The NJMS has been conducting a massive exercise of an ‘early case detection campaign’ which began in 1991 with Ichagarh and Nimdih blocks (then in combined Singhbhum district and now in Seraikela-Kharsawan district). Every year we target over 1 lakh people as part of our survey. This has helped in bringing down the incidence of leprosy cases from 21 out of every 1,000 people in 1991 to 0.3 in 2017-18,” said Dr Srivastava.

The Samaj was established in August 1981 with a clear vision to support the cause of leprosy prevention, control and rehabilitation. Its major projects include conducting a Leprosy Case Detection Campaign for identification of new cases and running an old-age home for leprosy patients called Antyoday Bhawan (near Parvati Ghat in Bistupur) and supporting the rehabilitative measures for patients residing at various leprosy ashrams in Jamshedpur.

“Leprosy as a disease has a social dimension. More than the availability of treatment, the disease leads to social stigma due to complicated wounds, ulcers, disfigurement and disabilities. Most of the leprosy patients face social exclusion in their community. Furthermore, if not identified in time, leprosy may lead to permanent disability. We at Tata Motors realised the need to work mainly because still today leprosy exists largely in the eastern part of the county,” said Dr Srivastava.

Initially, the Samaj worked in seven self-settled leprosy colonies (ashrams) in and around Jamshedpur, primarily focussing on providing treatment to the patients. In due course of time, the need was felt for early detection of leprosy in the communities mainly because of the patients’ tendency to hide their condition in fear of social stigma. This led to door-to-door surveys in different blocks of East Singhbhum district from 2018-19.

The Samaj also manages the Antyoday Bhawan, a 52-bed indoor care old-age home for leprosy patients. Since its establishment in 1989, this facility has successfully treated and rehabilitated over 3,000 leprosy patients. During their stay, the Samaj takes care of the hospitalisation needs of leprosy patients who are admitted for various ailments and care of ulcers and other complications. During treatment, Tata Motors provides free supply of food and medicine to the patients.