The Department of Community Health Nursing, Kalinga Institute of Nursing Sciences (KINS), organized an awareness programme under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) at the urban slum of Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar recently.
The programme was conducted by postgraduate students along with B.Sc. Nursing 7th semester students as part of their academic curriculum. The programme was organized in collaboration with Health Department, District Leprosy Office Khordha/Bhubaneswar; National Health Mission (NHM); Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI); Student Nurses Association of India(SNA) and BNLW; and Bhubaneswar Urban under the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign 2026. The main objective of the programme was to create community awareness about leprosy through a rally and role play.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Soumya Sonalika, Associate Professor, KINS, and generously sponsored by Dr. Anasuya Pattnayak, President of the Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI) Odisha and Head of the Department of Community Health Nursing, KINS. The event was conducted in the esteemed presence of Dr. Rajendra Kumar Mallick, ADPHO (Leprosy), Bhubaneswar; and Dr. Saumyakanta Satyasundar, District Leprosy Consultant, Khordha/Bhubaneswar, who provided valuable guidance to the students and community members.
Dr. Hemanta Kar, Professor Emeritus, Department of Dermatology, KIMS, graced the occasion as the distinguished guest. The programme was actively supported by the faculty members of the Department of Community Health Nursing, namely Ms. Trupti Rekha Swain; Mrs. Sasmita Nayak; Mrs. Prativa Roy; Mrs. Debashree Kar; Ms. Rajashree Bhol; Mr. Shivaji Ranjan Lenka; and Mr. Debasis Pradhan. The programme was also attended by Mr. Raghunath Pradhan, Social Worker (BNLW, Bhubaneswar Urban), the community president, ASHA workers, and Anganwadi Workers (AWW) of Niladri Vihar.
A total of 150 community members actively participated in the programme, contributing to its overall success. The National Leprosy Eradication Programme aims to eliminate leprosy through early detection, complete treatment with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), prevention of disability, and reduction of stigma and discrimination. Community awareness plays a vital role in dispelling myths and misconceptions related to the disease.
As part of the awareness activities, the students organized a rally to disseminate key messages regarding early signs and symptoms of leprosy, availability of free treatment at government health facilities, and the importance of early reporting and treatment adherence. Slogans and posters were used effectively to educate the public and promote positive attitudes toward persons affected by leprosy. The theme for the year, “Leprosy is curable; the real challenge is stigma,” was emphasized throughout the programme. At the end of the rally, students, faculty members, guests, and community participants took the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Pledge.
A role play was also performed by B.Sc. Nursing 7th semester students to demonstrate common myths and misconceptions, early symptoms of leprosy, the treatment process, and the importance of completing the full course of MDT. The role play conveyed messages in a simple and effective manner, reinforcing that leprosy is completely curable and that treatment is available free of cost at government health facilities.
The programme successfully enhanced community participation, improved awareness, and helped reduce fear and stigma related to leprosy. Overall, the awareness activities conducted through the rally and role play were informative and impactful. The programme also provided valuable learning experiences for the nursing students in health education, inter-sectoral collaboration, and community mobilization, thereby contributing toward the national goal of achieving a leprosy-free India.
