KARACHI, March 29: The city government plans to further develop its 200-bed Leprosy Hospital, the only public sector leprosy hospital in Pakistan which provides treatment facilities to patients coming from across the country. It is located in the Manghopir area near the warm water fountain.

“We have prepared a plan for further developing the hospital, which will be presented to the nazim at a ceremony scheduled on Thursday at the hospital,” Dr Muhammad Ali Abbasi, the Medical Superintendent, told PPI.

The ceremony is being held in connection with the World Leprosy Day.

Dr Abbasi said the number of leprosy patients in Pakistan was around 47,000, fifty percent of whom hailed from other parts of country but lived in Karachi for being near to the hospital.

“We have 200 patients admitted to the hospital while 4,000 patients are registered with the hospital and around 100 patients visit the OPD daily,” he said.

The 108-year old hospital, established by philanthropists, was taken over by the defunct KMC in the 1960’s and is currently run by the city government. It also provides treatment facilities to leprosy patients for other diseases.

“This hospital also serves as the rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients,” Dr Abbasi saidl.

There also exists a colony named ‘Yaqoob Shah Basti’ with around 300 houses near the hospital where the leprosy patients are settled.

He said certain NGOs were operating leprosy hospitals and clinics in the country that included the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre, Karachi.—PPI