Leprosy
Mailing List, April 24th, 2009
Ref.:
Whither Integration? (see
attachment)
From:
Ganapaty R.,
Mumbai
,
India
Dear
Dr Noto,
We
have documented evidence to show that increasing numbers of patients
report voluntarily to the Leprosy Referral Centres of Bombay Leprosy
Project after integration of leprosy in to general health services (Ganapati
R, Pai VV, Nanda A, Pai RR, Can
Urban Health Posts manage Leprosy Detection and Treatment after
Integration with General Health Services?—A Study in Bombay,
Lepr Rev,79, 338-339, 2008).
Observations
of a group of dermatologists working in one of the four major teaching
medical colleges in the huge metropolis of Mumbai published in the
Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology, 75, 190-191,
2009 are extracted in attachment for
the benefit of the leprosy mailing list readers.
I
believe that the experience of other medical colleges, practicing
physicians and NGOs indicates a rising trend of leprosy in this mega
city with about 15 million population, though statistics from such
sectors remain unrecorded. The situation may not be different in other
major cities with population exceeding 10 million.
Though
it is clear that over the past five years integration of leprosy has
failed, the concerned officials of the government and municipal
corporation seem to be quite complacent.
Dr
R Ganapati,
Director
Emeritus
Bombay
Leprosy Project
