Leprosy
mailing list – March 5th, 2006
Ccn: all.
Ref.:
Epidemiology of leprosy disabilities.
From: W
Theuvenet,
Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
Dear
Dr. Bryceson,
With
great interest I read your (re-)constructive comments (LML Mar. 3rd,
2006)!
Many
TLM leprosy hospitals already provide reconstructive surgery to
non-leprosy patients as the specific expertise can be well utilized
for adjacent fields as for reconstructions after nerve trauma, foot
problems in diabetes, and further away e.g. for problems
associated with spinal cord injuries, contractures due to
poliomyelitis etc. In
this way the specific (surgical) knowledge necessary to assist leprosy
patients can perhaps be best preserved, while these facilities may
generate an extra income for the hospital.
An
alternative could theoretically be in the training of non-leprosy
doctors in general hospitals but in my training experience they often
remain rather reluctant to admit leprosy patients in their institutes.
With
best regards,
Wim
Theuvenet
