Senior citizens with deformities due to leprosy were screened at a special camp held at the Government Taluk Hospital in Walajah town, Ranipet district on Tuesday.
Health officials said the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine organised the special camp as part of the Anti-Leprosy Week to prevent deformities due to leprosy. “Such camps also help senior persons with over 40% of deformities to apply for government pension. Their health is also tracked,” B. Preetha, Deputy Director (Leprosy), Vellore, told The Hindu.
On an average, 200 leprosy cases are reported every year in the Vellore district (including Ranipet and Tirupattur). As on January 31 this year, 207 patients are under treatment in the district.
