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Express News Service, Lucknow

MINISTER of State for Health Jaiveer Singh has said the State Government would soon achieve the targe of bringing down the leprosy offected population from 1.6 to one per 10,000.

"We have succeeded in creating awareness among the pople regarding the myths attachedwith the disease. There was a time when people affected by the disease were ostracised nd it was taken as a curse for committing sin in the past. But the stigma has been removed to a large extent and people know that it can be cured," he said while addressing the National Media Partnership Workshop under the aegis of International Leprosy Union and ICONS Mecia in association with Nippon Foundation.

He said the State Government has been organising extensive awareness programmes and supplying medicines free-of-cost to all district hospitals andprimary health centres.

Dr PK Hopal, president of IDEA, and organisation working to eradicate leprosy, informed that as per a study conducted by experts, ther eare 700 colonies in India where people with leprosy reside. He said need of the hour was to ensure pension for such patients so they are not forced to beg. He requested teh UP government to start one such scheme in the state soon.

Principal Secretary Sidharth Behura said discrimination against leprosy patients makes them vulnerable in the society and there was great need for widespread awareness programmes to eradicate this problem He informed the state govenment has developed an extensive network of health officers at all levels to take up preventative measures and empower those suffering from the disease.