Leprosy

• The Odisha government has declared leprosy, a reportable disease in the state.
• It has asked hospitals and persons dealing with diagnosis and treatment, institutions imparting medical education and providing diagnostic services to report all cases to the respective district health authorities.

ABOUT LEPROSY

• Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
• Also known as Hansen’s disease.
• It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that is still prevalent in more than 120 countries.
• Transmission- Leprosy is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
• Leprosy is known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old age.
• The disease affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes.
• It leads to physical deformity and morbidity if the patient is not treated early.
• The communicable disease is also associated with stigma and discrimination.
• Leprosy is a curable disease with a full course of multi-drug therapy (MDT).
  • Also the patient stops transmitting the disease when he/she begins treatment.

ABOUT NATIONAL LEPROSY ERADICATION PROGRAMME (NLEP)

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the umbrella of National Health Mission (NHM).
• Even as India has eliminated leprosy as public health problem, according to the WHO criterion (less than one case per 10,000 population at the national level), it remains endemic in some states including Odisha, where prevalence is greater than one.
• The NLEP aims at eliminating leprosy in each of the districts by 2030.

The NLEP strategies and plans are formulated centrally, and the programme is implemented by the States/UTs