Mission accomplished: Brakes on leprosy

ORISSA SMILES

It is heartening to note the success story of leprosy elimination in the state of Orissa `Mission accomplished: Brakes on leprosy" (The Telegraph – 1st May). A journey of nearly a quarter century in eliminating the dreaded disease is really commendable. Leprosy, an age old disease, carrying a lot of misconceptions and wrong notions has been finally combated. The State of Orissa along with various national and international agencies deserves compliments for accomplishing this great mission. Orissa was one of the hyper-endemic states in India which harboured maximum number of leprosy cases as compared to the national level. With a prevalence rate of 121.4 per 10,000 population and 3.2 lakhs leprosy cases in 1983, the hyper-endemic state Orissa has been able to eliminate the disease today by bringing down the number of cases to 3283 with a PR of 0.8 per 10,000 population. It's really praiseworthy.

The southern belt of India too was endemic during 80s with prevalence rate more than national level. However, awareness and education on the subject helped the people to volunteer for treatment which finally helped them in reaching the elimination stage soon.

Leprosy is not only a medical problem, but social too. The disease attach a lot of social stigma which prevented public acceptance due to fear. Lack of awareness labeled leprosy as a scourge to the society. Great Samaritans, like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Baba Amte and many, accepted these discarded daridra narayans and demonstrated to the world that love and compassion can bring immense happiness to the patients which lead them to complete cure.

Leprosy today is completely curable with modern medicines. Introduction of Multi-drug therapy (MDT) in all the districts in India was really a great boon. India today has been able to eliminate leprosy, thanks to MDT and the communication strategies designed by various stalwarts to ward off the disease. The role of student-community in leprosy awareness created a ripple-effect in the society. Leprosy elimination has been the most successful public health programme in the independent India.

India achieved leprosy elimination by 2006 by bringing down the PR to less than 1 per 10,000 population. However, COWBUJ (Chhatisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand) had 66% of the India's pool. Greater emphasis on awareness and strategies are planned to remove the bane from the society. We could soon see leprosy getting eliminated in other states too.

The Australian missionary Graham Staines of Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home in Baripada, Orissa would have been happy to see the success and smiles of leprosy patients. Destiny has its own plan.

Indian Development Foundation (formerly Indian Leprosy Foundation) a leading national NGO too could contribute to the success of leprosy elimination in India. What next after leprosy elimination ? As IDF diversified its activities from leprosy to other health, education and development areas, other NGOs too can take up different health aspects and network with other agencies for making a healthy society.

Empowering the leprosy cured persons and providing them dignity in the society can be the next task in the agenda.

Dr. Narayan B. Iyer
National Co-ordinator
Indian Development Foundation
idfmumbai@gmail.com