MIRPURKHAS, Jan 13: Marie Adelaide Drago government leprosy clinic, which was inaugurated by the senior general manager of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Naeemur Rehman Akhund, in November last, has started functioning in the old building of Leprosy Centre.

Sponsored by the SSGC, it was renovated at a cost of Rs 1.5 million. In the past, Tharparkar Leprosy Association had established leprosy centre in Mir Allah Bachayo colony with the efforts of former social worker, Dr H.M.A. Drago.

So far the centre has treated a number of patients which included, 1022 eye patients, five were operated upon for cataract, 343 got medicines for skin disease, and 13 patients of TB were being provided medicines free of cost.

The programme of the centre aims at to leprosy elimination and rehabilitation, prevention of tuberculosis and blindness.

According to in-charge of the centre and senior leprosy technician, Mohammad Altaf Arain, the centre has a four-member staff.

He said that SSGC would provide medicines, inter-ocular lens for cataract operation, and will also help establish laboratory for acid fast bacilli test (AFB) to detect tuberculosis patients.

He said that patients were being given free of cost medicines and test facilities.