According to the government about 55.5 per cent of new leprosy cases detected world-wide in 2010 were reported in India. Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said of the total 2,28,474 new leprosy cases detected world-wide in 2010, India contributed 1,26,800 cases which is about 55.5 per cent of the global disease burden.
Based on the information received from states/union territorites, there is an overall decrease in reported leprosy cases in 2010-11 as compared to 2009-10, but 14 states/UTs showed an increase in the fresh cases reported, he said.
On whether it is possible to eradicate leprosy from the country, Azad said the present strategy is to achieve less than one case per 10,000 population.
He said this level was achieved at the national level in 2005 and the Ministry is now concentrating on achieving elimination of leprosy at district level during the 12th Plan (2012-17).
He said it would be done through early case detection and case management and capacity building of medical/para-medical staff and community workers, besides improved monitoring and supervision. Although Uttar Pradesh registered a reduction of 1,964, the maximum of 25,509 fresh leprosy cases in 2010-11 were reported here. This was followed by 20,547 cases in Bihar and 15,498 in Maharashtra and another 10,321 from West Bengal.
Among the states which showed an increase in cases were Maharashtra, Orissa Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Kerala .
Among states which showed a decrease in cases were Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Tamil Nadu among others.
Keywords: leprosy, Ghulam Nabi Azad, 2010 fresh leprosy cases
LEPROSY is curable.Multi drug therapy CONSISTING OF Rifamycin600mg ,clofacimin100mg, dapsone100mg,to be treated for a year must bring down the bacterial load in the community, if started for the multibacillary patients who are the source of infection to the community. The pause bacillary patient needs treatment for a 6 months cource of treatment . Single lesion needs treatment for single dose of ROM THERAPY (Rifamycin600mg Oflaxacin 400mg, Minocyclin100mg) leprosy is least infectious.PHC level door to door survey by the field level workers will eliminate the disease.PHC level staffs should get motivated for THE CAUSE OF ELIMINATING THE DISEASE.
The figures quoted are grossly understated; Tamilnadu has suprising shown declining trend when the situation is totally reverse. Union Health Ministry is sitting in total darkness with regards to number of new patients going untreated for Leprosy. Leprosy symptoms is actually on rise. As stated by Doctors above door-to-door campaign is the order of the day especially in growing slum and hutments when hygiene and nutrition is seriously compromised while fighting this condition. I will be much obliged to present the statistics next time when i reply to Health department's ignorance.
In the areas where leprosy is raising it's head we need to resort to the "Trace and Treat" campaign. Education and training is vital. People need to be trained to believe that leprosy is curable and it is not contagious. Wardha's Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation (GMLF) and the late Baba Amte's Maharogi Sewa Samithi at Anandwan in Warora have done remarkably well in the combat against leprosy and leprosy related stigma.
Leprosy can be cured by multidrug therepy which is given free of cost in all govt. hospitals.Late detection,defaulting the full course of treatment,lack of awareness,illiteracy, all are hurdles in the eradication of leprosy disease.
How many of these cases are a result of better reporting? Leprosy is curable. This is the message which needs to be sent across, so that this disease can be completely eradicated from India.
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