World Leprosy Day: Is stigma coming in the way of disease-control efforts?
Leprosy is not a social curse. Eliminating stigma is important as eliminating the disease. Through awareness, education, compassion, and collective responsibility, we can eliminate stigma, ensure early treatment, prevent disability, and deformities.
New Delhi: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. This disease, though curable, causes heavy social stigma. It remains a significant public health concern in many developing countries, including India. This disease has a long incubation period and begins with subtle skin lesions like hypopigmented patches with sensory loss.
Dr. Saji Firoz, Consultant, Department of Dermatology and Cosmetology, KIMSHEALTH, Thiruvananthapuram, spoke about the importance of mitigating leprosy-related stigma.
Why the need to raise awareness?
It is infectious and spreads through prolonged close contact with an untreated infected person, primarily via droplets. It is not highly contagious and does not spread through casual contact. It is a curable disease.
- Once treatment starts, the patient becomes non-infectious, thus interrupting transmission
- Early diagnosis and treatment prevent disability. Multidrug therapy is freely available
- Treatment is important to prevent permanent nerve damage and deformities.
Stigmas associated with leprosy
- Myths that leprosy is incurable
- It is hereditary
- It is a punishment for past sins.
- Fear of isolation from family and community
- Lack of scientific knowledge. Delay in seeking medical care, hiding symptoms, and discontinuing treatment.
- Fear of deformities
- Psychological distress, problems related to marriage, and social participation.
Need to combat stigma
Through health education, communicate that the disease is curable with treatment. By counselling the patients and families, the fear can be reduced, and treatment adherence can be improved.
- Community involvement, including teachers, healthcare workers, and local leaders.
- Integrating treatment with general health care and avoiding segregation of patients
- Share positive stories of recovery and normalcy
- Legal and social support. Address discrimination, unemployment, marriage, and education.
Healthcare workers can promote early detection and counsel patients and their families to dispel myths and provide empathetic and non-judgmental care.
Leprosy is not a social curse. Eliminating stigma is important as eliminating the disease. Through awareness, education, compassion, and collective responsibility, we can eliminate stigma, ensure early treatment, prevent disability, and deformities. Healthcare workers can empower patients affected by leprosy through self-care training, vocational rehabilitation, and social support.