News and notes
This department furnishes information concerning institutions, organizations, and individuals engaged in work on leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases, and makes note of scientific meetings and other matters of interest.
Federal Republic of Germany. International Youth Workshop. An International Youth Workshop on Leprosy and Health was held in Munich, West Germany, 16-19 May 1989. It was organized by Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk Munchen e. V. (AHM) in cooperation with the World Assembly of Youth (WAY; Ved Bellehoj 4, 2700 Bronshoj, Copenhagen, Denmark) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It was attended by representatives of youth organizations in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, the Cameroons, Mexico and Peru. The main objectives were to review the outstanding problems in the control of leprosy and to discuss the practical ways in which youth organizations might actively participate. Mrs. Mathilde Gruner, Managing Director of AHM (Zenettistrasse 45, D-8000 Munich 2, West Germany) welcomed delegates to the meeting. Dr. Lois Philip (Health Education and Promotion, WHO) spoke on "Communication and education for leprosy control" and Dr. Colin McDougall (Oxford) spoke on "Leprosy; the disease and its control," using panels of the exhibit on leprosy supplied by the Wellcome Tropical Institute in London. The country presentations revealed that very large numbers of young people, many of them registered as members of the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides or other youth organizations, are already involved in health care or community development. Given professional advice and logistic support, they would be more than interested to participate in national leprosy control programs. Emphasis was given to activities which could be useful at the district hospital level, preferably using the primary health care approach. Write AHM at the above address in Munich for further information.
Haiti. XXII Congrès des Médecins de Langue Française de l'Hémisphère Américain. Le XXIIe Congrès des médecins de langue française de l'hémisphère américain se tiendra du 16 au 21 avril 1990, à l'Hôtel Christopher, Bourdon, Port-au-Prince, Haïti. Les principaux thèmes en seront: Le SIDA dix ans après (1980-1990); le problème du cancer dans les Caraïbes et l'hémisphère américain; les aspects particuliers des pathologies médico-chirurgicales dans les Caraïbes et l'hémisphère américain; les systèmes de santé dans les Caraïbes et l'hémisphère américain; la médecine traditionnelle et la médecine parallèle; la santé publique et <
India. Comprehensive Leprosy Care Project. The CIBA-GEIGY Leprosy Fund, Basle, Switzerland, is sponsoring a new and innovative "Comprehensive Leprosy Care Project" in Borsad taluka in Gujarat, India, for a period of 3 years beginning April 1989. The project will be directed by Dr. Atul Shah, and will be carried out in collaboration with the government of Gujarat. It was inaugurated by Shri Vallabhbhai Patel, Honorable Minister of Health. The aims of the project arc to bring nearly 500 leprosy patients scattered in 76 villages under medical care, providing for preventive surgery for leprous neuritis, correction of deformatics by prefabricated standardized splints, reconstructive and rehabilitative surgery, and application of Modulan for ergonomie rehabilitation at the domiliciary and occupational level. A new program and methodology for health education is likely to be developed, depending upon a socioeconomic cultural study of the local project area. Rehabilitation of patients will also be undertaken in collaboration with voluntary agencies working in the leprosy field. Thus, the project is envisaged to cover nearly all aspects of leprosy care.