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	NGO pitches in to replenish depleting leprosy funds Bombay Leprosy Project to urge US citizens, NRIs to raise funds The Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP), an NGO working in the field of leprosy eradication, will urge American citizens and US-based NRIs to raise funds for fighting the disease at its 30th anniversary programme on October 7. A seminar on ''Leprosy Free India - Challenges Ahead'' will also be organised by the BLP at the KJ Somaiya Medical College, in which several issues pertaining to the disease will be addressed by leading leprologists from all over India. Facing fund shortage, the NGO had to shelve many plans, including extending its services to rural areas adjoining Mumbai, augmenting rehabilitation and research projects and strengthening future leprosy care. Renowned leprologist Dr R Ganapati, who established the BPL on September 11, 1976, says that donors have stopped funding the eradication programmes after the Central government declared that the disease has been eliminated in India. However, it means that the transmission of disease is under control and prevalence rate has been reduced to one per 10,000, he says, adding that there is some defect in the government evaluation system as the BLP still gets fresh cases. Secondly, Dr Ganapati, emphasising the need for more funds, says that there are 1.5 million visibly deformed leprosy patients in India and their clinical and rehabilitation issues have to be tackled. ''Leprosy is a chronic disease and patients can have a relapse. Hence, it needs long term treatment and monitoring. Rehabilitation of the handicapped is a costly process and hence prevention and control of deformities is vital,'' says the moving spirit behind the institution. Celebrating the organisation's 30th foundation day on September 11, Dr Ganapati along with two other founder members - Dr V V Dongre and Dr (Mrs) SS Pandya - at the BLP's head office at Sion-Chunabhatti recalled the trials, tribulations and triumphs of BLP. It was on this day in 1976, nine individuals motivated by Dr Ganapati established BLP, which has been providing leprosy patients with free medical care, aids and appliances through its five referral centres at its head office, JJ Hospital, Bhabha Hospital, Dharavi and Worli. Working largely in municipal wards from Worli to Santacruz, including Dharavi, assigned to them by Maharashtra government, BLP also caters to patients coming from other parts of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Evolving a simple and cost effective urban model for control and management of leprosy, breaking barriers that existed between leprosy patients and medical service providers, using simple and innovative appliances to prevent deformities, educating Indian and visiting foreign medical students on leprosy are some of the major achievements of BLP. Creating a team and sustaining their interest amid other lucrative prospects were a challenge which BLP countered by involving part time doctors, community workers, medical interns and post graduates. But, funds have been hard to come by, says the leprologist. Apart from the support provided by German Leprosy Relief Association, BLP has had little monetary aid from either State or Central governments. URL : http://in.news.yahoo.com/060914/48/67lf2.html