New Delhi, Jan 30: President A P J Abdul Kalam has asked the government and non-governmental agencies to work for the welfare and rehabilitation of leprosy patients and strive to treat them as an integral part of the society.

In his message on the Anti Leprosy Day being observed today every year on the occasion of martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi who had very keen interest in leprosy work, the president said curability of leprosy needed to be properly publicised and suitable rehabilitation recommended for cured patients.
''The contribution of each enlightened soul in this cause, however small, can make a difference to the lives of such persons,'' Kalam observed and reminded Mahatma Gandhi's love and compassion for those suffering from leprosy.
On this occasion, he extended his greetings and felicitation to the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh, voluntary organisations and individuals attempting to eradicate this disease and wished them success in their endeavours.
The observance of the day provides an opportunity to create mass awareness about leprosy, to educate and remove misconceptions prevalent in the society about the disease. The steps taken by the national leprosy eradication programme and voluntary organisations to control and eradicate the disease from the country are also highlighted.
Bureau Report