<p><img src="" alt="Featured Image"></p><p><!-- wp:html --><p>The Anti-Leprosy Campaign (ALC) called for urgent amendments to the Lepers Ordinance of 1901, introduced during the colonial era, citing the current status of the disease.</p>
<p>The ALC also expressed concern about the lack of progress regarding proposals made by the former Health Minister to amend the Ordinance five years ago. They highlighted that the health sector is unaware of what happened to these proposals.</p>
<p>Fielding questions during a media briefing following the launch of the 'Act2 Prevent (A2P) Campaign', Consultant Dermatologist, National Hospital (NHSL), Colombo Dr. Indira Kahawita noted that the said Ordinance should either be amended or repealed. There was a move to do so five years ago due to the curability of the disease. The Ordinance was made at a time when leprosy was feared as an infectious disease with no available treatment resulting in hospitalisation. Patients were segregated from others to prevent the spread of leprosy, a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. </p>
<p>Dr. Kahawita said that with the introduction of the treatment method, which could completely cure the bacterial disease, a former Health Minister had proposed amending the 'Lepers Ordinance' five years ago. But, till date no move has been made to amend or repeal the Ordinance, while the health sector too does not know what happened with regard to the proposed amendments. </p>
<p>Consultant Community Physician ALC, Dr. Dilini Wijesekara noted that annually an average 1,500 new cases of leprosy were detected in the country. Last year (2023) the total number of cases detected amounted to 1,580, but of them 1,520 were newly detected. 12% of those patients were children, she explained. </p>
<p>Regional Director Health Services, Dr. Chandana Gajanayake advised patients who had been cured of leprosy to seek urgent medical assistance should they feel pain or a sense of numbness in their limbs. "This does not mean that they are having a relapse of the disease but that their nerves have been affected by the bacterial infection. </p>
<p> Consultant Dermatologist, Dr. Kahawita observed that people only received one set of nerves from the time of birth. Therefore, the sense of numbness originating from the damage caused by Mycobacterium leprae even after the disease is cured is on par with numb feeling patients suffering from due to diabetes. </p>
<p>The Act2Prevent campaign is a collaborative effort between the ALC and Alliance Development Trust (ADT). The campaign's main objective is to create awareness about leprosy and how early detection could prevent disabilities, alleviating the stigma associated with the disease. </p>
<p>ADT Representative, Rohantha Abeykoon noted that Act2Prevent aimed at utilising social media to spread awareness regarding leprosy. It calls for action amongst individuals and communities to play an active role in reshaping the story surrounding leprosy.</p>
<p>He said that the campaign invited people to participate in a challenge which had been set out during the campaign.</p>
<p>The challenge, which was demonstrated, required participants to place their hand in a bowl of iced cold water for 45 seconds. They were called to pick a toothpick up using their thumb and little finger as soon as they took their hands out of the chilled water.</p>
<p><strong>By Dilanthi Jayamanne and Chamodya Senarathna</strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://ceylontoday.lk/2024/05/15/urgent-need-to-amend-lepers-ordinance-alc/">Urgent need to amend Lepers Ordinance – ALC</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ceylontoday.lk/">Ceylon Today</a>.</p><!-- /wp:html --></p><p>[Category: <a href="https://feed.lankaimage.com/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag">Uncategorized</a>]</p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> </p>
<p>The ALC also expressed concern about the lack of progress regarding proposals made by the former Health Minister to amend the Ordinance five years ago. They highlighted that the health sector is unaware of what happened to these proposals.</p>
<p>Fielding questions during a media briefing following the launch of the 'Act2 Prevent (A2P) Campaign', Consultant Dermatologist, National Hospital (NHSL), Colombo Dr. Indira Kahawita noted that the said Ordinance should either be amended or repealed. There was a move to do so five years ago due to the curability of the disease. The Ordinance was made at a time when leprosy was feared as an infectious disease with no available treatment resulting in hospitalisation. Patients were segregated from others to prevent the spread of leprosy, a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. </p>
<p>Dr. Kahawita said that with the introduction of the treatment method, which could completely cure the bacterial disease, a former Health Minister had proposed amending the 'Lepers Ordinance' five years ago. But, till date no move has been made to amend or repeal the Ordinance, while the health sector too does not know what happened with regard to the proposed amendments. </p>
<p>Consultant Community Physician ALC, Dr. Dilini Wijesekara noted that annually an average 1,500 new cases of leprosy were detected in the country. Last year (2023) the total number of cases detected amounted to 1,580, but of them 1,520 were newly detected. 12% of those patients were children, she explained. </p>
<p>Regional Director Health Services, Dr. Chandana Gajanayake advised patients who had been cured of leprosy to seek urgent medical assistance should they feel pain or a sense of numbness in their limbs. "This does not mean that they are having a relapse of the disease but that their nerves have been affected by the bacterial infection. </p>
<p> Consultant Dermatologist, Dr. Kahawita observed that people only received one set of nerves from the time of birth. Therefore, the sense of numbness originating from the damage caused by Mycobacterium leprae even after the disease is cured is on par with numb feeling patients suffering from due to diabetes. </p>
<p>The Act2Prevent campaign is a collaborative effort between the ALC and Alliance Development Trust (ADT). The campaign's main objective is to create awareness about leprosy and how early detection could prevent disabilities, alleviating the stigma associated with the disease. </p>
<p>ADT Representative, Rohantha Abeykoon noted that Act2Prevent aimed at utilising social media to spread awareness regarding leprosy. It calls for action amongst individuals and communities to play an active role in reshaping the story surrounding leprosy.</p>
<p>He said that the campaign invited people to participate in a challenge which had been set out during the campaign.</p>
<p>The challenge, which was demonstrated, required participants to place their hand in a bowl of iced cold water for 45 seconds. They were called to pick a toothpick up using their thumb and little finger as soon as they took their hands out of the chilled water.</p>
<p><strong>By Dilanthi Jayamanne and Chamodya Senarathna</strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://ceylontoday.lk/2024/05/15/urgent-need-to-amend-lepers-ordinance-alc/">Urgent need to amend Lepers Ordinance – ALC</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ceylontoday.lk/">Ceylon Today</a>.</p><!-- /wp:html --></p><p>[Category: <a href="https://feed.lankaimage.com/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag">Uncategorized</a>]</p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> </p>