Leprosy control work at Polambakkam and its critical appraisal.

Polambakkam Leprosy Centre was started by Dr. R. G. Cochrane in 1 937 . Mter'a pause in the activities for a few years , it was then handed over to the Belgian Foundation for Leprosy III 1 955 and Dr. Hemerij ckx gave it a new life . I t s erves an area of 6000 sq . km (2300 sq. miles ) with a population of 650 ,000 inhabitants , 53 roadside clinics (Mobile Treatment Units ) covering the Control Area. A total of 1 5 ,960 leprosy patients are under treatment , while a further 10 ,790 patients are under observation after discharge from treatment . Priority is given to field work . A hospitalization ward of 60 beds is available at headquarters, with departments of surgery, physiotherapy, a laboratory and a workshop ; a training centre for paramedical workers is attached. In addition, there is a social service and also a home for destitutes , which function independently under a private organization, "The Damien Foundation (Belgium ) " .