National leprosy eradication programme

gnm

1. NATIONAL LEPROSY ERADICATION PROGRAMME National leprosy eradication programme is continuing since 1955. leprosy is found in all across the country though its effect varries from place to place. According to an estimate of world health organization , at least 11 countries have failed to achieve the target of leprosy eradication till the year 2000. therefore world health organization decide to extend the time of achieving this target by the year 2005. To declare any country , ‘leprosy free’ the leprosy rate must be below 1/10,000 population .

2. In the year 1983 programme name was changed to “National leprosy eradication programme” . Its objective to remove the leprosy from the country .at present the objective of this programme is early detection of leprosy cases and treating them at home with multi drug therapy. MODIFIED LEPROSY ELIMINATION CAMPAIGN(MLEC), were carried out after midterm appraisal of the programme , seen uneven progress in the states . During the campaign; short term training to health worker . Increasing public awareness about leprosy and house to house survey phase wise detect new cases in the country were done . Such six phase were conducted.

3. During IVth phase (august 2002-march 2003) states were divided into three categories I-High endemic states (8 in number) II-Moderate to low endemic states (14 in number) III-Very low endemic states (13 in number) Along with regular surveillance activities the Special Action Project for Elimination of Leprosy (SAPEL) for rural areas and Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (LEC) for urban areas have been designed for early detection and prompt MDT for leprosy cases.

4. Components of NLEP Decentralized integrated leprosy services through GH system . Capacity building Intensified IEC. Prevention of disability and medical rehabilitation and Monitoring and supervision. Country has achieved the goal of leprosy Elimination at National Level in December 2005(i.e. prevalence rate of less than 1 cases /10,000 population ) as set by NHP-2002