B) WORKSHOP REPORTS
1) Changing Community Perceptions and Ensuring Community Involvement
Chair： Dr. S.D. Gokhale
1. Changing community attitudes
a) Opening the discussion, one of the PALs mentioned that change in the perception of PAL ought to be the first step in changing community attitudes. To quote "when I was informed of my diagnosis as a leprosy patient, it was almost a declaration of a death sentence by a doctor. This was further endorsed by the priest when this was related to the sins in my earlier life. This was a real trauma and the beginning of a psychological battle " If one has to overcome this factor, apart from building the psychological confidence of PAL, it is essential to orient religious leaders and others around the PAL in his family or community so that they understand the real and scientific nature of the disease. This process of demystifying the disease of leprosy must begin simultaneously with the clinical diagnosis of the case. And this can be further supported by strengthening and modifying the attitudes of the family, peers, and the community so that PAL is reassured of his continued status in his community.
b) Empowerment of PAL. Discussing empowerment, the workshop believed that empowerment means enabling PAL to fully utilize all his rights-political, social and economic-like any other citizen. Empowerment also means provision of opportunities for upgrading the quality of life like any other citizen and to fully accomplish the developmental potential. There are positive and negative aspects of empowerment.
There are laws, regulations and conditions that create obstacles and constraints in the process of empowerment. For example, right to education, communication, marriage, property or voting are all fundamental rights. Denial of any of them would spell denial of human rights. To overcome these negative factors a special effort will have to be made so that the empowerment process is not hindered. To convert the negative factors into positive, involvement of the community and media will be very essential, but ultimately the goal will be equalization of developmental opportunities.
c) Community Based Information and Education Campaign was thought of as the best method to provide education and enlightenment to community at large and to PALs in particular regarding the disease and its treatment, and also regarding the rights and responsibilities of PALs. It was felt that such a campaign be organized at the local, state, and national level with a partnership between PAL, NGOs, and governments. The media support for such a campaign, along with non-governmental service organizations may go a long way to provide follow-up and sustainability to the campaign.
d) Media： Media has a significant role in demolition of stigma. Narration of experiences from various countries indicated that many times electronic and press media does not have up-dated and scientific information on leprosy with the result that the image created is a sterotype resulting in social stigma.
