Hamirpur (HP), Feb 14 (FN Agency) After making country “polio free” , the Himachal Pradesh government is now targetting ‘leprosy’ for which free treatment is available at all primary health centers. The microcellular rubber (MCR) footwear is provided to the leprosy patients twice a year. This was stated by a spokesman of the HP Health Department here Monday. He said under the National Health Mission, National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is being implemented for the patients suffering from Leprosy.
It aims to eliminate leprosy from every district of the country by 2030. He informed that the State of Himachal Pradesh has already eliminated leprosy by achieving the prevalence rate of less than 1 per 10,000 populations in the year 2000. However, the total number of new leprosy cases as detected from 1st April 2021 to 31st January 2022 is 101. The maximum numbers of 29 cases were reported from the district Solan, followed by 18 from district Shimla, 12 from district Kangra, and 9 from district Chamba, 8 from district Una. The 7 new cases of leprosy were detected in district Bilaspur, 6 in district Mandi, 5 in district Sirmaur, 4 in district Hamirpur and 3 in district Kinnaur. He added that no cases of leprosy were detected in Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti during the period.
The government spokesman said the active case detection and regular surveillance activity was being conducted by ASHA workers, in the villages where leprosy cases have been detected in the last three years. This is to ensure detection of leprosy cases at an early stage in order to prevent any further disabilities. He said the ASHA workers are provided an incentive for detecting new leprosy cases with or without disability @ Rs. 250 and Rs. 200 per case. He added that the contacts of leprosy patients are also traced and provided free treatment post exposure with a single dose of Rifampicin in order to prevent further transmission in the community.