Progress towards elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in India and role of modified leprosy elimination campaign

摘要

India(population 943 million)has seen a highly significant decrease in the prevalence of leprosy since the introduction on multi-therapy(MDT)in 1981. from a prevalence rate of 57/10,000 of the population in March 1981, the figure ha declined to 5.2/10,000 in March 1999. This was possible due to the creation of a completely vertical(specialized)infrastructure for leprosy control in the 218 endemic districts of the country and skeleton vertical staff in the remaining districts, coupled with the recruitment of additional staff on contract basis to provide MDT through vertical staff in endemic districts and mobile treatment units in the moderate and low endemic districts.