Community Rehabilitation in Leprosy

Abstract

More than 80% of all newly registered leprosy cases in the world are in India, Brazil, and Indonesia combined. According to projections, even if country-level eradication is achieved by 2020, leprosy is expected to remain a concern in high-endemic areas. According to current research, almost half of leprosy patients and their families experience social, physical, or a mix of social and economic challenges, as well as debilitation or destitution. In the broadest sense, disability, which is a symptom of this disease, occurs when people are denied equitable access to resources in their families and communities. The term “rehabilitation” is often suffixed when thinking of a remedial intervention in the context of leprosy since deformities are the most obvious sign of the disease. The physical component of rehabilitation should come first, with the ultimate goal of reversing the physical consequences of leprosy, while behavioral adjustments tailored to individual patients, their families, and their cultures should come second. The case study from India highlights that the affected person is actively spreading the word about leprosy and assuring people that it is curable provided they undergo care in a timely manner. Finally, self-help groups have been found to be effective in resolving the issues that leprosy patients confront. The members of the group are well versed on the difficulties that the patient is dealing with. They learn to love, admire, and encourage one another, which builds trust and self-esteem. People can share ideas and learn from one another at group gatherings.