BLP News August 2007

BLP NEWS - 2007

Seminar on “Complications in Leprosy”

Bombay Leprosy Project, in collaboration with Ghatkopar-Chembur Dermatology Club, organized an academic meeting on 19th Aug 2007, to discuss the Pathogenesis of Leprosy and Reactions in Leprosy.

Dr W S Bhatki, a senior Leprologist, delivered a lecture on the subject as the clinicians face mainly problems of diagnosis and management of complications.

Dr R Ganapati, Director Emeritus of BLP, who chaired the session, stressed the importance of keeping the suspected cases under observation in case of doubt. He emphasized on the significance of adequate and optimum duration of steroid to be administered to prevent nerve function impairment. He said that in BLP’s Referral Center nearly 350 patients with Reaction and Neuritis were treated over the last 2 ½ years.

Dr Pai highlighted that a drug like Thalidomide, has benefited 120 patients with recurrent Type II reaction, referred to BLP over a period of two years.
Dr Ganapati said that 30,480 capsules were used; the cost of drugs alone would have been Rs 12,19,200/-. The amount was raised from donations or the drugs received as gift. He also requested the dermatologists to refer patients for free treatment with thalidomide to the Referral Centre of Bombay Leprosy Project, provided there is an indication.

Dr N G Nagpur, Prof and Head, Dept of Dermatology, KJSMC who earlier introduced Dr Ganapati to the audience enquired about the difficulties in managing patients with recurrences of reactions on tapering of steroids.

Senior practicing Dermatologists, Dermatologists attached to the medical colleges, experts from the field of Leprosy, Public health specialists and Post Graduate students from the city medical colleges, actively participated in the Seminar.

Academic publications from BLP were distributed to the PG students and all members who attended.