The Odisha government declared leprosy a reportable disease as of today morning. This means that any leprosy cases registered at hospitals, people dealing with this debilitating disease, diagnostic labs that see positive cases and medical education institutions, all have to report every leprosy case they come across to their respective district health authorities and public health officer within two weeks of encounter.
This is a welcome step on behalf of the Odisha government since leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is a major public health concern in the state, and it brings with it physical deformity, morbidity, social stigma and discrimination. This is another step in India’s vision to completely eradicate leprosy by 2027.
Leprosy Mukt Bharat 2027
Although leprosy has been virtually eliminated from India, the World Health Organisation reports that the prevalence rate of leprosy is 0.4 per 10,000 people in the country. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has the vision of Leprosy Mukt Bharat under which they want the cases to amount to zero in the next three years.
Commenting on this policy, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister, MoHFW, said, “India is making progress and new leprosy cases are declining year after year. With the whole of government, whole of society support, synergy and cooperation, we can achieve the target of Leprosy Mukt Bharat by 2027, three years ahead of the SDG”.
Informing about the details of the programme, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State, MoHFW informed that it focuses on early detection, free-of-cost treatment to prevent the development of disabilities and deformities, and medical rehabilitation of those with existing deformities.
Preventing Leprosy
The Union government and state governments are ramping up efforts to eradicate this disease, which has been making a supposed comeback in the United States according to the the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the masses need to do their part as well.
To know more about some ways to prevent a leprosy infection, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Manjusha Agarwal, senior Consultant- Internal Medicine, Global Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai.
The first thing she recommended was early diagnosis and treatment. “If you notice suspicious skin patches or loss of sensation in certain areas of the body, consult a doctor immediately.”
She also recommended, “Maintain good personal hygiene. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially before eating or touching the face. Additionally, maintaining distance from someone diagnosed with active leprosy.”
Also Read: Leprosy in India: ‘Eliminated’ in 2005 But Continues to Grip The Country Due to Ignorance
Dr Agarwal concluded that early diagnosis, sticking to treatment plans, and community support like the Odisha government’s latest guideline are the foundations which can help eradicate leprosy from India and achieve the vision of Leprosy Mukt Bharat by 2027.