Shillong, Nov 13: Meghalaya Health Minister, A. L Hek, released a bunch of colourful balloons which marked the launch of the campaign on Leprosy case detection for East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District on Tuesday.

The function was held at the premises of Civil Hospital, Shillong organised by the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.

The Leprosy Case Detection campaign is a unique initiative under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). The objective of the Campaign is the early detection and generating awareness about leprosy, so that the person affected can be saved from physical disability and deformity by providing timely treatment and thus halting the transmission of the disease at the community level.

Speaking on the occasion, Hek urged all present to be ambassadors of the campaign to achieve the objectives of the campaign.

Stating that two weeks is too short a period for health workers to reach out to each and everyone, Hek stressed the need for cooperation from the society at all levels, so that leprosy can be eradicated.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. M. Marbaniang, State Leprosy Officer informed that the state of Meghalaya has an average of 20 to 30 cases of leprosy annually which includes new cases and cases under treatment.

Among these, cases with grade 11 disabilities have been detected which indicate that cases are being detected late or there are untreated cases which lie undetected.

Prizes were distributed to winners of the essay completion conducted for class 9 students of Holy Child Secondary School.