Deal signed on leprosy project

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 27: The Nepal Leprosy Trust has signed a new 5 year agreement with the Ministry of Health to run the Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre in Dhanusha district. During the 5 year period the Nepal Leprosy Trust expects to invest approximately US $ 1.6 million for the project.

Dr Benu Bahadur Karki, Chief of the Policy, Planning and Foreign Aid Division signed the agreement on behalf of His Majesty's Government, Ministry of Health and the Chief Executive of the Nepal Leprosy Trust, Kamal Shrestha on behalf of the Nepal Leprosy Trust.

The Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre has been operating since 1991 and has 52 beds for in-patient service as well as providing many out-patient services for persons affected by leprosy, including wound care, physiotherapy and specialist footwear provision. Last year, the hospital registered 1,480 new leprosy cases and over 28,798 patients attended the out-patient department with 672 admissions.

Other activities of the centre include public health education and support to His Majesty's Government's Leprosy Elimination Programme. The Self Care Training Centre with 24 beds, Rehabilitation Programme, Capacity Building Programme and Stigma Elimination Programme (STEP) are also in operation.

The centre will continue to help fight the disease of leprosy which remains a major problem in many Terai districts, and will assist towards the target of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem.

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