Sparsh Referral Centre

LEPRA and TATA Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) jointly initiated the SPARSH project in 2009 in Dhanbad district with an overall objective to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities caused by leprosy and lymphatic filariasis. Around 2,700 people are availing the specialised services, with a goal to enhance early case detection among children, women and men addressing issues of poverty, stigma and discrimination. 

Tata Steel dedicated a reconstructive surgery unit at Jamadoba consisting of a 10-bed hospital for people affected by leprosy across the State of Jharkhand. This reconstructive surgery unit was inaugurated by Ruchi Narendran on May 24, in the presence of Sudha Srivastav, Dist. Leprosy Officer, Mita Singhal, Ms. Sailaja Sundararamam, Rakhi Banerjee, Nupur Das, Jasbir Kaur, Tanya Banerjee and Dr A Rohatgi, Chief Medical Officer. It provides free treatment to those who have been disabled by leprosy. 

This reconstructive surgery initiative,which is one-of-its-kind in Eastern India, will play a major role in the leprosy eradication programmes, benefitting the patients from the States of Jharkhand and Bihar.