PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE VISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CO-OPERATION FOR LEPROSY

Abstract

In the year 2002, leprosy situation in Thailand has been steadily progress. However, the prevalence rate and percentage of leprosy patients are still quite high in the North-Eastern part of Thailand. Therefore, we have focused our plan of action 2001-2 on “The strengthening of Leprosy Elimination and Prevention of Disability in the North-Eastern Region.” The objective of which is to improve and sustain the ability of leprosy related staff to conduct activities such as case finding, complication diagnosis, treatment of disabilities, rehabilitation, supervision and evaluation. The International Medical Co-operation for Leprosy in 2001, we received funds from Netherland Leprosy Relief Association (NLR) for 9 programmes concerning training of leprosy for health officers and assessment of the quality of life for leprosy affected persons living in northeastern colonies. There are 3 training courses of leprosy for new medical doctors, lab technicians from community and provincial hospitals and 2 workshops on Rehabilitation and Development of Leprosy Affected Persons “Quality of Life” under the Germany Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA) support. From Japan we received funding from Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation (SMHF) for 4 projects in immunological studies since 1997 and 2 projects concerning dental services for Leprosy patients in the north and northeast regions from Umemoto Memorial Dental Service Group (UMDSG). The medical co-operation between Japan and Thailand should increase in many aspects especially. for new chemotherapy, immunotherapy and vaccine study in Leprosy. The future vision of Leprosy, we plan to set up the International Center of Leprosy for medical officers, technicians, etc. for the South-East Asian Countries. You are welcome to join and work together with us.