LEPROSY NGO OBESERVES WORLD DISABLED DAY

Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) has been practicing the concept of observing the World Disabled Day (WDD) and not only World Leprosy Day and Anti leprosy Week with the same enthusiasm as this is more relevant as leprosy is being integrated with general health services and rehabilitation services.

Rehabilitation of leprosy affected and physically challenged is a long time endeavour of BLP which has been undertaken in collaboration with allied agencies and philanthropists.

At a simple function on 3-12-08 at its Main Referral Centre, BLP observed the WDD by providing aids and appliances to the needy leprosy affected person and a young physically challenged boy.

Mr A P Deshpande, Hon Secretary, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad and Member of BLP distributed a sewing machine to a leprosy cured patient with deformity of the eyes staying in Dharavi slum and a wheel chair to a young boy with paralysis of all the limbs also a resident of Dharavi slum. He mentioned that such integrated approach practiced by BLP will go a long way in eliminating stigma in the society.

Dr V V Pai, Director BLP mentioned that under its rehabilitation programme besides engaging leprosy affected and physically challenged individuals in assisting the leprosy relief work, BLP has also been providing aids and appliances to physically challenged individuals to improve their quality of life.Mr S Hoval, Manager BLP thanked the gathering.

Bombay Leprosy Project celebrates Children’s Day

Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) working for the welfare of leprosy patients is supporting a Slum Children Literacy Class (SCLC) since October 2004 for the children affected by leprosy along with street children in an integrated manner.
SCLC is sponsored by SURDEEP an NGO from Japan with focus on child education.

Children’s day is a special day for the children. Children’s Day is observed on 14th November as the date marks the birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter and India’s first Prime Minister – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. As a tribute to Nehru and his love for children, Children’s Day is celebrated on his birth date. This day reminds to renew the commitment to the welfare of children and teach them to live by Nehru’s quality and dream.

To commemorate this day, 50 children from the class were given sweets in a small program organized in the SCLC at Acworth Municipal Hospital Complex where the class is functioning. School bags and stationeries were gifted by BLP to all the children. Dr (Ms) S M Bhat, Senior Medical Officer from Acworth Municipal Hospital for Leprosy distributed the gifts. Dr V.V. Pai, Director, BLP, Sister Seraphine of Monsoon and Sunshine class, Mrs Pai, Field Officer, BLP and Mr Subhash, Manager, BLP thanked the Acworth Municipal Hospital for Leprosy of Bombay Municipal Corporation for helping in the activity.

BLP News
Will Post-Graduates take interest In Leprosy?

Is neglecting the “Neglected Disease of Leprosy” the fault of the students? To seek an answer, the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venerologists and Leprologists - Maharashtra Branch (IADVL-MB) in collaboration with Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) took a bold step and arranged an one-day Academic Session in Sion Medical College on 8th June’2008. To attract the students and create interest in leprosy, subjects like Lasers, Biologics, HIV Medicine etc. were deftly added.

A large number of medical students of Maharashtra enthusiastically listened to the subject of leprosy being succinctly explained by veteran leprologists like Dr R Ganapati, VV Dongre and VV Pai as well as stalwart dermatologists, such as Drs CM Dambre (President, IADVL MB) Uday Khopkar, S Tahliani, Kiran Godse etc. Recent advances in leprosy in the areas of diagnosis, pathogenesis, chemotherapy & complications were provided in learner-friendly “made easy” packages. Academic publications by BLP were distributed. A variety of leprosy patients were demonstrated.

The students gleefully participated in an exciting quiz session with attractive prizes. It was remarkable that tough questions on leprosy were answered with confidence.

The organizers were confident that “Yes, the post-graduates will take interest in the neglected topic of leprosy if the subject is taught in an attractive manner”.

BLP News

Bombay Leprosy Project

WORLD TB DAY OBSERVED BY BLP

On the occasion of World TB Day on 24th March 2008, Bombay Leprosy Project, organized awareness programmes in the community keeping in line with the WHO theme of “TB anywhere is TB everywhere”.

To support the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, BLP runs two DOTS Centre in collaboration with the Bombay Municipal Corporation in the slum community of G and H wards of Bombay.
In H ward, BLP runs a DOTS Centre in Behrampada, Bandra (East) since 2002, and in G ward, the DOTS Centre is functioning at V P Nagar under Jijamata Health Post, Worli, since 2004. The DOTS centres cater to patients in the local community to facilitate better treatment in the slum.

On the occasion of World TB Day, BLP held a health exhibition to promote awareness about the disease and distributed leaflets to educate the masses on the significance of early diagnosis and completion of treatment. The exhibition was well attended by the patients and their relatives and also the general community to take advantage of the occasion. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Shabbir, Hon Secretary, Behram Nagar Committee, Bandra at the Bandra DOTS Centre.

At the Worli DOTS Centre, an exhibition was arranged for the patients and slum community and leaflets on early identification and regular treatment of TB was distributed to the general public.

An Appeal to the Donors

· Cost of Leprosy treatment should not be that high
· Think before you donate

Dear Donors,

This refers to the comparison of claimed cost of leprosy service

I am glad that a research paper explaining the details of how the cost factors were worked out by us in Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) was presented at the recently concluded International Leprosy Congress in Hyderabad.

The paper was appreciated by the experts who attended the Session from various countries at the Congress.

We have recruited over 1000 patients under Leprosy Patients Relief Fund and the follow up is in progress.

Dr R Ganapati, Director Emeritus, BLP

PS: This is a request to all donors to be highly conscious about the cost benefit ratio before offering funds for leprosy relief work.

Cost of treatment of one leprosy patient

Dear Sir / Madam,

Kindly refer to my earlier email sent to you in December, 2006 on the above subject.

The Leprosy Mission in their appeal for leprosy donation mention that they could “heal” only 10 patients, out of US $ 4566.00 they have raised recently.
You are aware of the “Leprosy Patients Relief Fund” of Bombay Leprosy Project. Please note that under this Scheme we would be able to mange about 268 patients with a donation of $ 4566.00, the cost per patient in our hands being just $ 17.00.
I would like to reiterate that this cost does not include expenses towards maintenance and establishment etc. Funds are used directly for services to patients and service- providers.
I urge donors to be cost-conscious when they give funds to Non Profit Organizations.

Dr R Ganapati,
Director Emeritus, Bombay Leprosy Project


_______________________________________________________
Leprosy Appeal Date: Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Well we have a final total for the Christmas Leprosy Appeal and I am completely amazed at the generosity of everyone. We had approximately 300 - 350 people donate money for a total of $4566. That means we raised enough money to heal 10 people from leprosy with a bit over and we averaged approximately $13 per donation.

Thank you again for taking part in this appeal we have done to support the Leprosy Mission and I look forward to next Christmas maybe doing it all again.

Pat Brittenden