The recent report by the Leprosy Mission Trust India has revealed a significant influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on the detection and management of leprosy cases, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The report indicates a sharp drop of 62.5% in active leprosy detections between April and September 2020, as a consequence of Covid-19 imposed social distancing and lockdowns. This underscores a wider implication on public health and disease control, beyond the immediate impact of the pandemic itself.
Understanding Leprosy
Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium Leprae. Also referred to as Hansen’s Disease, this medical condition has been recorded in human history since 600 B.C. and was prevalent in ancient civilizations like China, Egypt, and India.
The disease primarily affects areas such as skin, peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract, and the lining of the nose. It manifests in symptoms including red patches on the skin, numbness in extremities, ulcers on the soles of feet, muscle weakness, and extreme weight loss. Leprosy can be contracted at any age but typically manifests symptoms 3-5 years post-infection, making it challenging for early detection.
Leprosy is curable through Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), a combination treatment approach.
India’s Efforts to Combat Leprosy
India initiated the National Leprosy Control Programme in 1955 and discovered a definite cure, MultiDrug Therapy, in the 1970s. The first phase of the National Leprosy Elimination Project, supported by the World Bank, began in 1993-94. Afterward, the initiative continued with funds from the Government of India.
The National Health Policy 2002 set the goal of reducing leprosy cases to fewer than 1 in 10,000 people by 2005. This target was achieved at the national level in December 2005.
Collaborative and Awareness Strategies
The World Health Organisation’s Global Leprosy strategy 2016–2020 emphasizes promoting inter-sectoral collaboration within countries. The SPARSH Leprosy Awareness Campaign, launched in 2017, aimed to increase awareness about leprosy and tackle stigma and discrimination.
The campaign prioritized contact tracing, treatment, chemoprophylaxis, focusing on women, children, and disabled, to identify more hidden cases. It also proposed new preventive approaches like Chemoprophylaxis and immunoprophylaxis for breaking the chain of transmission.
Legal Initiatives and Future Plans
In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered the state and central governments to implement awareness programs about leprosy. The court stressed using positive stories and images of cured individuals for these campaigns.
In 2019, the Lok Sabha passed a bill that removed leprosy as grounds for divorce. In celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on October 2, 2019, the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) planned to reduce the grade of disability cases to fewer than one case per million people by October 2019.
Despite the setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India remains committed to eradicating leprosy and supporting affected individuals.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024