GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

 

 RAJYA  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 527

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND MARCH, 2010

Strategies to eradicate leprosy

 

527.   SHRIMATI SHOBHANA BHARTIA :

         

          Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

 

(a) whether Government is aware that there is a high number of new leprosy

cases in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the goal of elimination of leprosy by the year 2005 as per National Health Policy 2002 could not be achieved;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken by Government to formulate new strategies to prevent/

eliminate leprosy disease in the country?

 

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)

 

(a) & (b) No. The number of new leprosy cases detected in the country has been declining over the years as shown below:                          

Year

No. of new leprosy cases

2004-05

260063

2005-06

161457

2006-07

139252

2007-08

137685

2008-09

134184

2009-10

104503

(Upto December, 2009)

(c) No. The goal of elimination of leprosy i.e. less than 1 case per 10,000 population has already been achieved in December 2005 at the national level.

(d) Question does not arise.

(e)The present strategy of government under National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is – 

        i.            Decentralized integrated leprosy services through General Health Care System.

      ii.            Early detection and complete treatment of new leprosy cases.

    iii.            Carrying out household contact survey on detection of Multi-Bacillary (MB) and child cases.

   iv.            Involvement of ASHAs in the detection and treatment completion of leprosy cases through a system of performance based incentive.

     v.            Enhancement of IEC activities in the community to improve self reporting to the Primary Health Centers.

   vi.            Intensive monitoring and supervision with Block PHC/CHC as unit of analysis.

---