Bablu Harijan
Bablu Harijan is a 13-year-old male, son of Sunam Harijan residing at Nabarangpur district. He is studying in 9th grade at RCD High School, Nabarangpur District.
One year back (2013), his mother had noticed some patches over the left elbow joint, but they ignored it by thinking the patches as very common. Gradually, the patches were increased, and the left ulnar nerve started tenderness. One of the relatives asked his father why he did not take him to Dr. KD Panigrahi clinic for a skin check-up, then his father brought him to the clinic where he was diagnosed as a leprosy case and referred to District DPMR Clinic for treatment. He was registered as MB Child in March 2014. After three months of treatment, Bablu felt more pain in the left ulnar nerve & the nerve become hard.
Bablu complains to his mother regarding his pain, but his mother felt that it might have happened because he fell to the ground. His mother massaged with some oil in the nerve part & took him to traditional healers for herbal medicine. But the pain remains the same & his left ring and little finger gradually clawing. After a delay of three months, his father takes him to again DPMR Clinic for treatment. Their doctor/PT assessment done and started NFI treatment (Prednisolone) and advised him to complete 12 doses of MDT it will be subsided. In September, Bablu was made Release from Treatment (RFT). Still, he has ADM muscle weakness.
Bablu attends the DPMR Clinic in 2014 at DHH Nabarangpur. The physiotherapist and LEPRA CHP examined him & found that his left ulnar is grossly thickened and observed tenderness with an ulnar clawing duration of three months. There PT & Project CHP counselled and provided NFI treatment (Prednisolone). At present, he is under surveillance period with doing regular exercises. Project staff regularly visited for contact survey and POD assessment and observed a progressive result. Project CHP career counselling is done and contacted with Headmaster at RCD High School and collected the school bills for educational support for reimbursement through Oracle’s Chaha project. He is staying with his father, mother, two sisters and one brother. All are healthy & none of them is suffering from leprosy.
Bablu’s father is a truck driver and monthly earns INR 7000 as salary, challenging to manage his family (6 members). So his elder sister Nikita Harijan completed matriculation (10th) last year and discontinued her study. The family belongs to the BPL category, and recently, they got a PMAY house worth INR 1,30,000 and built a good home.
Bablu received financial support for his education under the Chaha project. He and his family are happy for the support received and thanked the staff of LEPRA and Oracle.