RAMBAN: The District Administration Ramban, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, observed Gandhi Jayanti in Ramban.

In line with the national campaign for a Leprosy-Free India, the Health Department, under the leadership of Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Magotra, and guidance of Zonal Leprosy Officer, Dr. Sushma Mattoo, marked the occasion by launching the Kusht Mukat Abhiyaan at District Hospital Ramban.

The event, organized under the direct supervision of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ramban, Dr. Kamal Jee Zadoo, and attended by DHO Ramban and Incharge Medical Superintendent Dr. Rafi, along with Orthopaedic Surgeon Dharm Pal Sharma, PMA, and staff from the Malaria and Leprosy Sections, aimed to spread awareness and eliminate leprosy transmission at the district level by achieving zero new cases by 2027.

Floral tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Malik, alongside staff members. This was followed by an awareness lecture by Dr. Malik, who educated the gathering on the causes, transmission, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of leprosy.

In a significant move, a Kusht Mukt Rath (Leprosy-Free Awareness Van) was flagged off by DHO Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Malik from District Hospital Ramban.

The van, adorned with slogans and pamphlets about the Kusht Mukat Abhiyaan, passed through key areas including Main Chowk Ramban, Maitra, Karol, and surrounding areas, raising awareness about leprosy among the public.

Similar Gandhi Jayanti celebrations were held across all health blocks in the district, furthering the message of a leprosy-free society and honoring Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of health, equality, and social justice.