After identifying around 35,000 new leprosy patients in its last year’s leprosy Case Detection Campaign (lCDC), India is ready with yet another similar focused drive-expanding screening coverage from 149 districts in 23 States to 305 districts in 29 States/UTs — to be launched from next month to trash out more number of hidden cases.
Dr Anil Kumar, DDG (National leprosy Elimination Programme (NlEP)) in the Union Health Ministry said, “Since larger population is being screened this time we expect to detect more cases.”
The campaign will be launched from October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti) to November 16 in the identified districts.
“In fact, we are mulling to make such unique door-to-door surveillance a regular feature for next few years given positive response to it. It will help detect all backlog and new cases to help ensure timely treatment as well cut transmission of the disease in the community.”
The aim is early detection so that afflicted persons can be saved from permanent deformity. The lCDC is a unique initiative of its kind in the world where each and every members of the targeted population will be examined by the search team constituted of a ASHA worker and male volunteer
Around five lakh teams including ASHA workers and male volunteers will screen family members for skin patches, considered a classic symptoms of leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium laprae. It mainly affects skin and destroys nerves resulting in permanent disability.
To cut down under-reporting of leprosy cases, a three-pronged strategy has been introduced for their early detection. These include leprosy case detection campaign in high endemic districts, focused leprosy campaign for hot spots of low endemic areas and special plan for case detection in hard to reach areas.
The lCDCs are being supplemented by chemophrophylaxis, with a single dose of rifampicin being administered to all contacts of confirmed cases, to cut down community-level transmission.
He said aim is to achieve zero GII disability among children and less than 1 case per million among the general population by 2019, one year ahead of the target set by the WHO in its current five-year strategy.
Although India achieved elimination of leprosy as a public health problem3 in 2005, it has the largest number of leprosy patients in the world. According to the WHO, India, Brazil and Indonesia, together accounts for 81 per cent of the newly diagnosed and reported patients globally.
States (number of districts) to be covered under lCDC
Andaman & Nicobar (1), Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (8), Bihar(38), Chandigarh (1), Chhattisgarh (27), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (1),Daman & Diu(1), Delhi (11), Goa (2), Gujarat (12), Haryana (3), Jharkhand (17) Karnataka(5), lakshadweep (1), Madhya Pradesh (30), Maharashtra (22), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (4), Odisha (31), Telangana (3), UP (54) and West Bengal (27)