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Plastic surgery island for leprosy patients

25 Jan 2021

  • 99-Acre hospital to offer reconstructive services

  • SL sees 2,000 new leprosy cases annually

  By Pamodi Waravita   The Anti Leprosy Campaign (ALC) of the Ministry of Health hopes to build a facility to provide reconstructive services for leprosy patients at a part of the 99-acre Mantheevu Island Leprosy Hospital in Batticaloa, The Morning learnt. “We have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health and hope that we would be able to receive the necessary fund allocations for the construction of a reconstructive services facility in Mantheevu,” ALC Director Dr. Champa Aluthweera told The Morning yesterday (24). Dr. Aluthweera said the construction of such a facility would enable patients who have faced skin lesions or damage as a result of leprosy to receive treatment or plastic surgery. However, Dr. Aluthweera added that there is no confirmed date as to when they would receive information about fund allocation for the project. According to Dr. Aluthweera, approximately 2,000 new cases of chronic infectious leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, are recorded each year. Leprosy is caused due to the mycobacterium leprae, which is spread via the respiratory system through nasal droplets from coughing or sneezing. “From the new cases that are identified each year, about 45% are recorded from the Western Province in the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara. The Eastern Province records about 15% of cases, with the Southern Province contributing to 10% of the total cases,” said Dr. Aluthweera. She added that there has been no district reported so far with zero cases per year. Although leprosy was once thought to be an incurable disease due to the permanent damage it causes to the skin, nerves, eyes, and limbs, if left untreated, the development of multidrug therapy (MDT) provides a permanent cure to leprosy. “MDT treatment is freely available at all government skin clinics, and we encourage patients to obtain treatment as soon as possible. There is no reason to fear this disease,” emphasised Dr. Aluthweera. Currently, Sri Lanka has two leprosy Hospitals – one in Hendala and the other on the Mantheevu Island. During colonial times, the Lepers Ordinance No. 4 was introduced in 1901, which led to the quarantine of all leprosy patients in one of above two Hospitals, as it criminalised the “harbouring” of a “leper”. The Mantheevu Island is now home to only three such patients who have long been cured of the disease. A 1930 report of the Engineering Association of Ceylon claims that the island once housed over 10,000 patients. When questioned about the social rehabilitation of the patients on the island, Dr. Aluthweera said the rehabilitation process could commence if funds are obtained. The ALC conducts consistent islandwide programmes, especially in villages with a higher number of cases, in order to prevent the discrimination of patients. World Leprosy Day falls on the last Sunday of every January, and thus will be held on 31 January this year.

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