OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha Government has decided to make the District Collectors and Chief District Medical Officers accountable for achieving Zero New Grade 2 Disability (G2D) Leprosy in their districts. The Union Government has recently directed the State Government in this regard advising the State Administration to prevent G2D cases.
As India is celebrating 150th Anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi this year, it will be a fitting tribute to him, said Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Preeti Sudan in her letter. A large number of leprosy caused Grade II disability when the patient is not detected or provided treatment on time. G2D leprosy cases are being reported from across the State and even children are facing the problem resulting in a heavy leprosy disease burden. Sudan said that the Ministry is committed to preventing the occurrence of G2D cases, and the medical rehabilitation of those who have suffered G2D.
State Health and Family Welfare Secretary Pramod Kumar Meherda has accordingly asked health officials to scale up awareness drive and identification of leprosy-affected people in the districts where the prevalence rate is high. Meherda has stressed on collective efforts to make Odisha Leprosy free by March 2020.“Several initiatives have been undertaken to reduce grade-II disability cases due to leprosy in the State. We have to achieve the target of less than one case per 10 lakh population by 2 October 2019,” said Meherda.
The prevalence of leprosy in Odisha was 121.4 per 10,000 population during 1982-83 and it came down to 0.65 during 2006-07 due to the successful implementation of National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). But, the rate slowly went up to 1.24 by March 31, 2018, and all steps were taken to curb the menace. There are a few districts in the State that have G2D cases and the State Government has asked the CDMOs to go for ASHA-based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS).ABSULS is an effective intervention as the ASHA Karmis are working at Grass Root level and more aware of the people having such diseases.
Right now, the Odisha Government is implementing another innovative intervention such as Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC), which is an effective tool. Meherda has asked the District Collectors and CDMOs to pay adequate attention for effective implementation of LCDCs and ABSULs so that the occurrence of G2D is completely prevented. With the implementation of LCDCs and ABSULs, early detection of the disease will be possible and the treatment can be followed up in time.