|
India Achieves
Elimination of Leprosy as a Public Health Problem
|
|
|
|
Dr. S.J. Habayeb, WHO Representative to India Joins the Union Health Minister, Dr.
Anbumani Ramadoss to announce the Elimination of Leprosy as a public health
problem in India
|
Dr. S.J. Habayeb, WHO Representative to India; Mr.
Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination; Mr Kenzo
Kiikuni, Sasakawa Health Foundation
|
As of the last day of the year 2005 India has achieved its set goal
of Elimination of Leprosy as a Public Health Problem. This was
within the time limit by which this level of prevalence had been targeted to
be reached.
Elimination of Leprosy as a Public Health Problem means
that the number of people suffering from leprosy in a community or country is
at a level where it is no more a grave public health problem to this
community. WHO has defined this as a Prevalence Rate of one or less than one
patient per ten thousand population. India has reached this level with a
total case load of 107,000 patients and a Prevalence Rate of 0.95
as on 31st of December 2005.
During the decade of the nineteen eighties when the number
of patients of this disease was at its peak worldwide, 122 countries had a
Prevalence Rate of over one per ten thousand population. Since then many
countries have reached the level of elimination, and now only eight countries
are yet to attain that level.
India has had a very high prevalence and at one time the
Prevalence Rate was as high as 57 per ten thousand population. However the
Government of India through its determined implementation of the National
Leprosy Eradication Program since 1983 and the National Leprosy Control
Program since 1955 has ultimately reached the desired results. Various
strategies have been implemented keeping in mind the changing requirements of
the Program. Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (MLEC), Focused Leprosy
Elimination Program (FLEP) and Block Level Awareness Campaigns (BLAC) are
some of these strategies. Focusing on the quality of diagnosis, adequate
monitoring and reaching the most unreachable parts of the country have paid
rich dividends for NLEP.
The National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) has been a
program of partnerships of organizations like the ILEP, World Bank, DANLEP,
SMHF, Nippon Foundation etc. WHO has remained firmly beside the Government of
India and the states in the efforts to reach Elimination.
It has provided all types of support including suggesting strategies,
providing technical support to the program managers at the central and state
levels and even providing drug security through free supply of MDT.
Reaching elimination does not mean that leprosy is a
closed chapter. In the words of Mr Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador
for the Elimination of Leprosy, ‘The Elimination of Leprosy as a Public
Health Problem is a milestone along the way to fundamentally eradicating both
the disease and the social stigma that for so long has accompanied it.’
WHO reiterates its commitment to help India attain a leprosy free state.
|
