National Strategy Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023–2027

• To achieve zero cases of leprosy infection by 2030, the Union Health Ministry has created the National Strategy Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023–2027.

More on the news:

• India still accounts for around 52% of the world's new leprosy sufferers, despite being designated "Leprosy Eliminated" in 2005, according to the Union Health Ministry.
• It should be mentioned that past successes in India's leprosy treatment were undone by the COVID-19 pandemic, when case identification drastically decreased, which resulted in a rise in patients with grade 2 disabilities.
• Almost 90% of leprosy cases in the country are found in districts (totaling 82 districts) in states like Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, and Daman Diu.

About National Strategy Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023–2027:

• National Strategy Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023–2027 and National Guidelines for Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Surveillance in leprosy were also released during the event along with launch of the Nikusth 2.0 Portal.
• The strategy and roadmap will aid in advancing the campaign against leprosy, to stop transmission, by speeding case detection efforts and maintaining a robust surveillance infrastructure.
• As India is progressing towards leprosy eradication, a need of strong AMR surveillance system is required to gear up the system.
• These guidelines will provide the technical guidance in developing and sustaining a robust surveillance system for AMR surveillance in leprosy patients.
• Nikusth 2.0 is an integrated portal for leprosy case management under National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). It will aid in efficient data recording, analyzing and reporting of the data in the form of indicators and a real time dashboard at center, state and district levels.

About Leprosy:

• Leprosy is a bacterial infection that causes persistent inflammation of the skin, nerves, lungs, and eyes.
• It is brought on by the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria and is also referred to as Hansen's illness.

Symptoms:

• Patches of skin that may be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin might be used to identify it.
• The damaged skin patches can occasionally be reddish. In these skin patches, sensation loss is typical.
• Since it is a contagious infection, it could transfer from one person to another. The most typical transmission path is. Yet, via way of nasal secretions

Treatment:

• Antibiotic combinations like Dapsone, Clofazimine, and Rifampicin make it simple to treat.
• Program for the Nationwide Elimination of Leprosy
• A centrally sponsored health programme is the National Leprosy Eradication Project (NLEP).
• The main goals of its implementation are to lessen disease burden, reduce disability, and raise public knowledge of leprosy and its curability.
• The program works towards spreading awareness and reducing stigma attached with the disease.
• Surveillance was also strengthened by introducing ASHA-based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS) where grassroot level workers constantly engaged in examining and reporting suspects.
• Special emphasis under the Focused Leprosy Campaign (FLC) was given to areas that were difficult to access or had child cases and cases with disabilities.

World Leprosy Day:

• Every year on the final Sunday in January, people all over the world mark International Leprosy Day.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) announced “Act Now. End Leprosy.” as its theme for World Leprosy Day 2023.

The three primary points of the theme are:

• the possibility of eliminating leprosy;
• the need for quick action, which calls for resources and commitment;
• the fact that leprosy is treatable and avoidable.