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Leprosy
Elimination
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Introduction
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Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease
caused by M. Leprae, an acid-fast, rod shaped bacillus. The disease
mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper
respiratory tract and also the eyes, apart from some other
structures.
Leprosy has afflicted humanity since time
immemorial. It once affected every continent and it has left behind a
terrifying history and human memory of mutilation, rejection and
exclusion from society.
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NLEP
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The The Govt. of India
started the National Leprosy Elimination Programme in 1983 and
Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) was introduced in a phased manner district
by district. The Prevalence Rate of leprosy (PR) was 21.1 in
March-1985 which has come down to 0.82 by March-2008. World Bank
assisted National Leprosy Elimination Programme (NLEP) phase-2 has
been initiated since 2001.The goal of NLEP phase-2 was to eliminate
leprosy by March-2005 by reducing the prevalence rate of leprosy to
below 1 per 10,000 population. The strategy of the 2nd phase of
NLEP was to detect leprosy patients from high endemic districts and
urban slums through Special Action Plan for Elimination of Leprosy
(SAPEL).
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Gujarat has progressed very rapidly in the control of
leprosy, one of the most disabling diseases of mankind. As per the
statistics of March-1985, there were 21 people suffering from leprosy
for every 10,000 population, while in Feb-2008, there are only 0.82
people. Thus Gujarat has achieved the goal of elimination by bringing
down the prevalence rate below 1 per 10,000 population. At the end of
Sept-07 , 4752 leprosy patients were under treatment for leprosy in
Gujarat state.
Simplified Information System is being implemented from 1st
April 2003 and now leprosy services are being provided from all
PHC/CHC and Sub-centre Levels. MDT services are available free of
cost at all health centres on all working days.
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Block Leprosy Awareness Campaign (BLAC)
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During the year 2007-08 (May-June-07), BLAC was organised in
511 PHCs of 78 Talukas of 13 districts. During this campaign 26000
New self suspected patients reported at 2790 Leprosy Counseling
Centers (LCC). During this BLAC campaign 946 new cases of leprosy
were detected and brought under treatment. BLAC was also carried out
in the month of Feb-March 2008 and 648 new leprosy cases were
detected and put under treatment.
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