National Leprosy Eradication Programme

National Leprosy Eradication Programme

Introduction

The National Leprosy Eradication Programme is a centrally sponsored Health Scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The Programme is headed by the Deputy Director of Health Services (Leprosy ) under the administrative control of the Directorate General Health Services Govt. of India. While the NLEP strategies and plans are formulated centrally, the programme is implemented by the States/UTs. The Programmes also supported as Partners by the World Health Organization, The International Federation of Anti-leprosy Associations (ILEP) and few other Non-Govt. Organizations.

The year 2012-13 started with 0.83 lakh leprosy cases on record as on 1st April 2012, with PR 0.68/10,000. Till then 33 States/ UTs had attained the level of leprosy elimination. A total of 542 districts (84.7%) out of total 640 districts also achieved elimination by March2012. A total of 209 high endemic districts were identified for special actions during 2012-13. After thorough analysis a total of 1792 blocks and 150 urban areas were identified for special activity plan (SAP- 2012). The States were advised to post well trained District Leprosy Officer in all the districts where these blocks are located. In addition one officer should be identified in each of these blocks to strengthen the process of supervision and monitoring. Active house to house survey was the main strategy alongwith IEC and capacity building of the workers and volunteers. This activity helped in detection of more than 20,000 new cases during 2012-13

Objectives

• Early detection through active surveillance by the trained health workers;
• Regular treatment of cases by providing Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) at fixed in or centres a nearby village of moderate to low endemic areas/district;
• Intensified health education and public awareness campaigns to remove social stigma attached to the disease.
• Appropriate medical rehabilitation and leprosy ulcer care services.

Strategies for Leprosy elimination in India

• Decentralized integrated leprosy services through General Health Care system.
• Early detection & complete treatment of new leprosy cases.
• Carrying out house hold contact survey in detection of Multibacillary (MB) & child cases.
• Early diagnosis & prompt MDT, through routine and special efforts
• Involvement of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in the detection & complete treatment of Leprosy cases for leprosy work
• Strengthening of Disability Prevention & Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) services.
• Information, Education & Communication (IEC) activities in the community to improve self-reporting to Primary Health Centre (PHC) and reduction of stigma.
• Intensive monitoring and supervision at Primary Health Centre/Community Health Centre.

Milestones in NLEP

• 1955 - National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP)    launched
• 1983 - National Leprosy Eradication Programme launched
• 1983 - Introduction of Multidrug therapy (MDT) in   Phases
• 2005 - Elimination of Leprosy at National Level
• 2012 - Special action plan for 209 high endemic   districts in 16 States/UTs

Institutions

Four premier Leprosy Institutes are working under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & F.W., Government of India viz. CLTRI, Chengalpattu, RLTRI, at Aska, Raipur and Gouripur are involved in research (basic and applied ) in Leprosy and Training of different categories of staff involved for Leprosy elimination. These Institutes also play important role in management of referral patients, providing quality care to chronic ulcer and disabled patients with the help of Minor & Major Reconstructive Surgeries. These Institutes also help in supervising and providing consultancy services to the State NLEP Units for better programme planning and implementation.

Central Leprosy Teaching & Research Institute (Cltri) Chengalpattu (Tamilnadu)

The Central Leprosy Teaching & Research Institute, Chengalpattu was originally established in 1955 by the Govt. of India under a Governing body by taking over lady Wellington Leprosy Sanatorium established in 1924 and Silver Jubliee Government. It was taken over by the Govt. of India in 1974 with a objective to provide diagnostic treatment and referral services to leprosy patients, training aspects of leprosy and its control. It has separate wings of epidemiology and statistics, clinical medicine, microbiology and bio-chemistry laboratory, surgery and physiotherapy. This Institute caters to both indoor and outdoor patients. The inpatient hospital has bed capacity of 125 patients. The hospital treats large number of leprosy complicated reaction cases and undertakes reconstructive surgery. This Institute is actively involved in number of research projects on basic and applied research for the cause of leprosy elimination. It continuously engaged in organizing short term training course as well as long term training course for in service Laboratory Technician and Physiotherapy Technician. The training course for Medical Officers and Non-Medical Supervisors are also being conducted on leprosy related activities. This Institute is also being conducted on leprosy related activities. This Institute is also recognized as one of the nodal center by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), DGHS, Govt. of India for conducting Health Statics training course for Medical Officer.

In view of the declining of leprosy and set to achieve the elimination by the end of 2005, this Institute has been assigned additional functions in the area of Capacity Building for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, epidemiology training course, microscopy and DOTS center under, RNTCP operation research related to RNTCP, referral laboratory for external quality assurance and drug resistance surveillance and rehabilitation surgery.

Regional leprosy training & research institue (rltri) raipur (chhattisgargh)

This institute was established in 1979 with 75 beds hospital OPD and field operation area of two blocks of Raipur district covering 6.60 lakhs population for monitoring and technical supervision of leprosy services. These are 75 posts are field and 13 are vacant. The OPD treats leprosy cases with free MDT services. The in–patient service regularly admit and treats leprosy patients and a number of Reconstructive surgeries are carried out regularly for various type of leprosy deformities in the institute’s hospital. The institute also works as a referral center for problematic, complicated and intractable cases. It also works as a nodal training and research center particularly programme related research activities in the region for the cause of leprosy elimination. This institute is also working as Regional Directorate of Health & FW for state of Chhattisgarh for various health programme such as Malaria Filaria, T.B., HIV / AIDS etc. from the month of August.2005.

Regional leprosy training & research institute (rltri) aska (orissa)

This Institute was established in 1977 with 67 sanctioned posts viz. (Gr. A – 06, Gr. B – 02, Gr. C – 32 and Gr. D – 27) and 53 are in position viz.(Gr. A – 04, Gr. B – 0, Gr. C – 27, and Gr. D - 32). It has a fifty beded hospital. The in-patient services regularly admits and treats, leprosy patients . It also works as a nodal training and research center particularly programme related research activities in the region for the cause of leprosy elimination.

Regional leprosy training & research institute rltri, gouripur, bankura (west Bengal):

The Institute was established in 1984, with 100 sanctioned posts and 71 are in position viz. (Gr. A-06, Gr. B – 0, Gr. C – 27, Gr. D – 38 and 7 nos. of Casual workers Temporary Status). The institute has a hospital of 50 beds capacity for admission of patients and it also provide regular OPD services. The institute has field practice area covering 2 lakhs population Health Education and IEC activities are going on. The in-patient services regularly admits and treats leprosy patients and physiotherapy services and eye cases of leprosy patients are being treated regularly. It also works as nodal training and research center particularly programme related research activities in the region.

Source: National Leprosy Eradication Programme