Yaws is a severe, disfiguring, disability-creating non-veneral treponemal infection. It is a chronic and contagious disease more prevalent in tribal populations. It can be eradicated in a short period of time by detection of all cases by house to house visit in yaws endemic areas and treatment of cases and contacts by single dose of long acting penicillin.

History
IIn the year 1994 about 6 cases of suspected yaws were reported in district of Dangs by Ex-Professor of Skin & V.D., Govt. Medical College, Vadodara.

Action taken for detection 
In July 1994 District health Officer, Dangs was provided literature on yaws to appraise medical officer of PHCs. Leprosy Officer Valsad was also provided literature with request to arrange diagnostic camps for Skin & V.D. Civil Surgeon, Dangs was also requested for detection of Yaws and its eradication in India.

In February 1995, Regional Deputy Director, Surat; District Health Officer, Dangs and Leprosy Officer, Valsad were provided copies of technical manual on prospective strategies for Yaws Eradication in India.

Regional Deputy Director was requested to organize "Surveillance activities " for detection of Yaws cases. Prior meetings of DHOs, MO - PHCs, District Supervisors and voluntary organization were held to improve skill and knowledge about the disease for surveillance activities.

As per information available with National Institute for Communicable Diseases(NICD), New Delhi, District of Dangs was one of the 27 districts in the country affected with yaws till 1984. So it was selected for a time bound programme for control of yaws by NICD, New Delhi, which is the agency providing technical and financial assistance to the State.

Since 1997 we have been advised by Govt. of India to consider the feasibility of taking up yaws eradication in our State.

Achievement
Active search for the cases of yaws is being carried out since 1996. No cases have been found so far during this period in the state.