Over 300 leprosy cases have been reported in Gujarat’s Valsad this year during government health campaigns conducted after a gap of four years, officials said on Tuesday.
A total of 348 cases were identified after the leprosy department conducted an investigation drive in 469 villages of various talukas including Pardi, Umargam, Dharampur, Kaprada, Valsad and Vapi. The campaigns were carried out in two phases: from January 1-20 and the second between June 10 and July 2.
Dr Sanjay Kumar, Valsad’s nuclear medicine officer, said, “In January, our teams detected 134 cases, of which 66 were classified as non-infectious and 68 as infectious, of which 10 were mild. In June, another campaign reported 214 cases, of which 114 were infectious and 100 non-infectious, seven of which were mild.”
The results of the campaign showed that 32 infectious cases were reported in Kaprada, while there were 37 non-infectious patients in Dharampur. The lowest numbers were recorded in Valsad and Pardi talukas, where eight infectious and three non-communicable cases were reported respectively.
The tracing efforts involved more than 1,730 teams, including women ASHA workers and male volunteers, who visited every village in the district. According to sources in the department, they identified 1,095 suspected cases from a population of over 17.42 lakh people.
“In 2023, around 190 leprosy patients sought treatment at our centres. Our medical teams are continuously taking care of leprosy patients in the district and giving them free medicines,” Dr Kumar added.
The previous drive conducted in 2020 had detected 107 cases. Dr Kumar said the drive was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To further address the issue, extensive awareness campaigns will be launched targeting various community groups, including school students, in different talukas.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, was declared eradicated in India one-and-a-half decades ago, but has re-emerged in many states. India has the highest number of leprosy cases in the world. More than half of all new cases reported globally are in India.
Declaration of the elimination of leprosy in 2005 is criticised as an immature decision by the government, which led policymakers and people to believe that the disease has been eradicated completely. The declaration of elimination diluted efforts of health workers, who were helping in identifying cases in rural areas. As a result, efforts to fight against the disease at different levels were also reduced to a great extent.
All the same, India is making significant strides in its efforts to achieve a leprosy-free status by 2027. Initiatives like Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC), ASHA Based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS), Focused Leprosy Campaign (FLC), Special Plan for Hard-to-Reach Areas help in early case detection and for the awareness and stigma reduction. The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) was launched in 1983. It focuses on early detection, prompt treatment, and rehabilitation of those affected by leprosy. Through a network of healthcare workers and specialised clinics, NLEP aims to provide accessible and high-quality services to all individuals diagnosed with leprosy.
India launched the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Leprosy in January, 2023. It outlines key strategies that include improving case detection rates, ensuring timely treatment with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), enhancing disability prevention and management services, as well as addressing stigma associated with the disease. By engaging local communities and raising awareness about leprosy through campaigns and education programmes, there is an increased early diagnosis and reduced transmission rates.
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