Leprosy

Leprosy

Context: The district administration of Sambalpur in Odisha recently turned to women self-help groups for an unlikely assignment — nursing care and assistance for leprosy patients.

Concept:

• Odisha declared itself leprosy-free in 2006-07, with cases dropping below 10,000 and the prevalence rate below 1%.
• However, re-emergence of the disease, with cases crossing the 10,000-mark annually in the past few years, has sent the health and civil administration into a tizzy.

Leprosy cases increasing in Odisha

Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease. Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases in recorded history, afflicting humanity since time immemorial. A written account of Leprosy date as far back as 600 B.C.

Cause: Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection. It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Leprae, which is an acid-fast rod-shaped bacillus.

• Infections: Skin, Peripheral nerves, Upper respiratory tract and Lining of the nose.
• Transmission: It mainly transmits by breathing airborne droplets from the affected individuals. It can be contacted at any age.
• Symptoms: Red patches on the skin, skin lesion, and numbness in arms, hands, and legs, ulcers on the soles of feet, muscle Weakness and excessive weight loss. It usually takes about 3-5 years for symptoms to appear after coming into contact with Leprosy causing bacteria.
• Treatment: Leprosy is curable with the combination of drugs known as Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT).

National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)

• The National Leprosy Eradication Programme is a centrally sponsored Health Scheme under the National Health Mission of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
• The Programme is headed by the Deputy Director of Health Services (Leprosy ) under the administrative control of the Directorate General Health Services, Govt. of India.
• Leprosy-free India” is the vision of the NLEP.

Objectives

• To reduce Prevalence rate less than 1/10,000 population at sub national and district level.
• To reduce Grade II disability % < 1 among new cases at National level, the cases < 1 case per million population at National level
• Zero disabilities among new Child cases.
• Zero stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.

Initiatives

• Active Case Detection and Regular Surveillance (ACD&RS) guidelines rolled out.
• Convergence of NLEP with Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakaram (RKSK) for counselling the children of teen age group (13-19 yrs) about leprosy at Adolescent Friendly Clinics
• Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaigns
• Introduction of NIKUSTH – A real time leprosy reporting software across India.