Port Blair, Jan 31: On the occasion of Martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi, who was concerned for leprosy affected persons, a District Level SPARSH Leprosy awareness campaign was inaugurated by Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, Deputy Commissioner (SA) at Primary Health Centre, Garacharma for creating awareness amongst the public to remove the stigma and discrimination against persons affected with leprosy.

The DC(SA) administered an oath to the gathering on the occasion do not discriminate the persons affected with leprosy. He also urged the Special Officers of the Gram Panchayats and health workers to eliminate leprosy and to spread the message that leprosy can be cured with 6-12 months of multi-drug therapy and also that early treatment to avoid any disability.