Malda, January 31 (IANS). World Leprosy Day 2026 was celebrated with much pomp and show on Saturday at Divisional Railway Hospital, Malda. The event was organized under the guidance of DRM/MALDA Manish Kumar Gupta with the global theme ‘Leprosy can be cured, the real challenge is stigma’.
In line with this theme, the main objective of the program was to spread awareness about leprosy (Hansen’s disease), underline the importance of early detection and timely treatment and remove the deep social stigma associated with the disease. Prof. was the chief guest in the program. (Dr.) R. N. Bhattacharya, HOD, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata delivered the expert lecture.
Dr. Bhattacharya, who has been dedicatedly working in reconstructive surgery for leprosy patients for 22 years, shared detailed information on the status of leprosy in India. He pointed out that India still remains among the leading countries in cases of leprosy, with West Bengal ranking third in reported cases.
Dr. Bhattacharya stressed that leprosy is completely curable, with free treatment available through multi-drug therapy (MDT), but the morbidity caused by late diagnosis makes patients vulnerable to social exclusion and rejection. Reconstructive surgery and structured physiotherapy can restore lost function, allowing patients to return to mainstream society. He mentioned Mahatma Gandhi’s lifelong commitment to leprosy patients and his efforts to restore their dignity, which is inspiring even today.
The program also included an interactive session, which was moderated by Dr. Amitabh Mandal, Deputy CMOH-III, Malda. He discussed public health strategies, early detection, treatment and community-based support with doctors, health workers and attendees. In the session, questions and answers were held on symptoms of leprosy, infection prevention and stigma-free measures.
Senior medical officers of the hospital like Dr. S. Bose (ACMS/P), Dr. S. Roy (DMO/ENT), Dr. S. Nursing and paramedical staff including Dr. Bhattacharya (ACMS) took active participation. Their enthusiastic cooperation reflects the hospital’s commitment to fight leprosy at both the medical and social levels.
–IANS
SCH