NLEP programs 2021|Milestones of NLEP|Reduce Stigma | Full knowledge

In this article, I will tell you about NLEP which is the biggest program of the Indian Government to eradicate Leprosy. In this article, I will tell you about NLEP programs 2021 which play a very important role in the dramatic reduction in numbers of new Leprosy cases and by which disability among new Leprosy cases and child cases among new Leprosy cases also reduces. Because the key point of NLEP is Early detection and Early treatment which helps to reduce disability and child cases.

Note: Leprosy is not a contagious disease it is completely curable with MDT (Multidrug therapy).

NLEP(National leprosy eradication program):

The Government of India launched the National Leprosy Country Program in 1955. After the launch of MDT in 1982, this program was converted to the National Leprosy eradiation Program(NLEP) in 1983, to achieve the eradication of leprosy from the country. and with this goal and with perfect strategy at the end of 2018 India reduces the new leprosy cases and as a result prevalence rate is less than 1 case of Leprosy per 10000 population, and it’s a great achievement of India.

The elimination of Leprosy disease was outlined as attaining a prevalence rate ( PR ) of one case per ten thousand population – achieved in 2005.

AS the NRHM launched in 2005, the program Was subsumed below the aegis of NRHM and being enforced as a centrally sponsored scheme.

The country achieved the goal of eliminating Leprosy disease as a public health problem at the national level by the end of December  2005. After elimination NLEP runs all programs integrated under the newly launched National Rural Health Mission ( NLEP ).

As of 31^st  December 2005, the prevalence rate recorded within the country was 0.95/10,000 population.

Only a pair of states/UT wasn’t ready to reach elimination at the state level:

1. Chattisgarh.
2. Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

209 high endemic districts identified and special activities to be undertaken  in these manners:

• House to House survey,& IEC activities to detect the leprosy case in early stage and start the treatment and prevent the disability.

Major initiatives since 2005:

• More focus has now been given to new case detection than prevalence.
• Annual New case detection Rate(ANCDR) is the main indicator for NLEP monitoring.
• Treatment completion rate (TCR) has been made an important indicator ( TCR is to be calculated by states every year )
• More emphasis is being given on provision of Disability prevention and medical rehabilitation ( DPMR ) sevices to patients like :

1. Dressing material,Medicines,and ulcer kit are provided to affected persons who have ulcer.
2. Micro cellular rubber slippers ( MCR ) provided for those who have anasthetic soles to prevent ulcer.
3. A disabled person who have claw hand/foot drop/lagophthalamous or any deformity which is due to Leprosy under going reconstructive surgery ( RCS ) an amount of rs.8000 is provided to compensate the loss of wages.

ASHA participation in:

1. Transporting suspected cases of leprosy from their village to a PHC (primary health centre) for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
2. An incentive will be granted to Asha for each confirmed diagnosis and for completing the full course of therapy within the time frame specified.

• Provide free medical services, such as ulcer care, leprosy patient training for self-care, counselling, and so on.
• Leprosy patients should be given free MCR shoes.
• At the PHC level, health workers ( nms/nma/pmw/ASHAs ), mass media, and local media have carried out an intensive IEC campaign.
• Reduce the stigma
• Early detection and treatment are essential.
• Completion of treatment.

National leprosy eradication program pdf :

Source:

NLEP programs 2021:

1. LCDC (Leprosy Case Detection Campaign):

The first LCDC was inaugurated in March-April 2016 across 50 districts across seven states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, with a population of approximately 6.8 crore people. During the campaign, 65427 suspect cases were identified, with 4120 of them being conferred subsequently.

On September 5, 2016, the second LCDC was launched in 149 districts across 19 states.–

It is a one-of-a-kind NLEP endeavor.

The major goal of this campaign is to prevent disability via early diagnosis of leprosy in affected people.

Every member of the targeted population will be investigated by a search team made up of one male Field level worker (FLW) and one female (ASHA) volunteer at the home level as part of this campaign. The search crew will go house to house according to the Microplane created for the local region in order to find concealed leprosy cases.

LCDC’s criteria are as follows:

This program targeted districts with a prevalence rate of more than one case per 10,000 people in any of the previous three years.

ROLE OF ASHA ( Accredited social health activist ) IN NLEP:

• Generate awareness between people and reduce stigma
• Identify the suspect Leprosy cases easily because ASHA can reach door to door in rural areas
• Help the health workers in ensuring the regularity and completion of treatment.
• Encourage the patient to take regular treatment and complete the cource,due to which disability may not develop
• Encourage the Leprosy patient who have disability to practice self care as advised by the doctor to prevent diability.

2. ABSULS(ASHA Based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects):

This campaign started on July 1, 2017. This campaign runs from July 1, 2017, through July 1, 2019. The goal of this initiative is to find hidden Leprosy cases early so that treatment may begin and disability can be avoided.

In this campaign, ASHA conducts a survey in their assigned region and reports the number of suspected Leprosy cases on a particular form, which is then submitted to the PHC.

The information provided by ASHA is collated by a supervisor in the PHC and then checked by healthcare professionals ( DOCTORS ). If a case of leprosy is discovered in these suspect instances as reported by ASHA, the affected individual should be treated right once to avoid becoming disabled.

3.PEP(Post-exposure prophylaxis):

This program has been started in October 2018 under NLEP.In the PEP program Whenever a new leprosy case is found, after surveying 10 houses adjacent to it, they are fed a single dose of rifampicin according to age and weight. this program reduces the risk of new leprosy cases and child leprosy cases.

4.FLC(Focused leprosy campaign):

When a new disabled leprosy patient, or a new child Leprosy case is found, Then that whole village is first surveyed by the health worker (PMW/NMS/NMA) and they are checked and it is searched whether there is an active leprosy patient in that village who has not got treatment yet, and he is spreading disease to the people around him. If such a patient is found during the survey, then he is taken to the Nearest Government Health Center and registered and his treatment is started.

5.SLAC ( Sparsh leprosy awareness campaign ):

SLAC was launched on 30^th  January 2017, which is the anti-leprosy day. ( on the occasion of the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death ) This is also celebrated as a world leprosy day worldwide.SLAC was conducted as an annual activity during the fortnight from 30^th to 13^th February to create awareness about Leprosy.

In this campaign, gram sabhas were organized in all villages to reduce stigma among people. Tell about signs and symptoms of leprosy to the people. This campaign organized awareness programs in schools, villages, rural and urban both to reduce stigma.

The objectives of SLAC are to create mass awareness in the community on leprosy to reduce stigma and discrimination in the community and for early detection of leprosy cases.  This campaign plays a very important role in the early detection of Leprosy cases and the prevention of disability.

6.SLEC ( Sparsh Leprosy elimination campaign ):

To pay homage to our nation’s father, Mahatma Gandhi, on his 150th birthday, the central leprosy division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has embarked on a yearlong comprehensive campaign dubbed Sparsh Leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) that will run from October 2nd, 2018 to October 2nd, 2019.in this campaign spread the awareness between peoples about leprosy. Following messages spread through this campaign:

• Leproasy is not a hereditory disease.

• Leprosy is not a contagious disease.It doesnot spread via touching to a leprosy patient,does not spread while working in same place togather,doesnot spread while playing togather.

• Early diagnosis and complete treatment can prevent its transmition to other person and prevent disability due to Leprosy.

• leprosy is completely curable with MDT( Multi drug therapy).

• Leprosy is not a result of bad deeds.Leprosy occurs due to a bacteria named Mycobacterium Leprae.

A major component of the campaign is to include all populations that are covered in  Leprosy case detection campaign (LCDC) in districts with a high incidence of grade-2 disabilities due to Leprosy, as well as a Sparsh Leprosy awareness campaign (SLAC), in which gram sabhas are held to raise awareness about the disease’s signs and symptoms, as well as treatment options.

Notes:

In all these programs, Asha is involved, because she goes to every house and she acts as a link. Asha cooperates fully till the case finding and treatment is completed and for this Asha is given an incentive.

Regular activities should be done under NLEP:

1. Information education and communication(IEC) Activities:

Under this, our health workers spread awareness and reduce stigma among the people so that people themselves recognize the symptoms of the disease, And get themselves treated by going to the government health centers.

2. Group meeting:

Organize a group meeting in villages among the people and teach them about the symptoms of leprosy and reduces the stigma.

3. Organise DPMR activities:

Under this, the camp organization is done by the physiotherapist. And in this camp, patients with disabilities from leprosy are told that How to take care of the part which has become disabled and how to avoid becoming ulcer, and patients are taught exercise to avoid muscle damage. And if any disabled patient is found in them whose handicapped part is mobile, then that patient is prepared by counseling for surgery.

Provide them a different type of splints to prevent disability.

Provide MCR(MICRO CELLULAR RUBBER) slippers that prevent developing sole ulcers.

Picture of MCR Distribution at PHC Level :

MCR is also provided to Leprosy patients at CHC/PHC Level. In short Indian government provides all necessary things to Leprosy patients. We care for all Leprosy patients. Our aim is to provide all facilities to all Leprosy disabled patients living in India. and Our Indian Government is constantly trying to complete this aim. so that all Leprosy patients can get all facilities easily.

Importent points should be remember:

• Leprosy is not a wrath of gods and goddesses nor it is a result of the deeds of past birth.Its a social stigma.

• Leprosy is completely curable with MDT(Multi drug therapy)

• Leprosy is not a heriditory disease.

• Leprosy cant spread by living together/shaking hands etc.

• Early detection and early treatment is the key point to prevent disability in Leprosy.

Milestones of NLEP:

1955—The Indian government launches the National Leprosy Control Program (NLCP).

1983—The Indian government launches the National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP).

1983—Introduction to Multidrug Therapy (MDT)

1993 to 2000—NLEP -1 was financed by the World Bank

2001 to 2004—NLEP-2 was sponsored by the World Bank

2005 — ( January ) NLEP was funded by the Government of India and supported by Donor Partners.

2005 — ( December ) – Leprosy was declared eradicated as a national public health hazard in India.

2006—DPMR was first implemented as a component of the NLEP, with the goal of preventing disabilities.

2012 – Special action plan for 209 districts with high endemicity in 16 states/UTs.

2016—The Leprosy Case Detection Campaign ( LCDC ) began.

2017—Marks the start of the ABSULS program.

2017— Marks the start of the FLC program.

2017— marks the start of the SLAC program.

2018— marks the start of the PEP program.

2nd October to 2nd October 2019 — SLEC program launches

2019 — Leprosy screening with Rashtriya Bal swasthya Karyakram ( RBSK ) to screen children aged (0 to 18 years ) in Anganwadi centers and Government schools.

2020—  Active Case Detection and Regular Surveillance ( ACD & RS ) program launches.

2020—Convergence of Leprosy with Rashtriya Kishore swasthya Karyakram ( RKSK ) for educating children in the adolescent age group (13-19 years) about Leprosy at adolescent-friendly clinics.

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• management of Leprosy Reaction.

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FAQs for important programs under NLEP:

Summary:

How did you like this article of mine, give your opinion in the comment box. In this article, I have tried to give you full information about all programs conducted under NLEP. Give your valuable comments below. In my next article, I will tell you the definition of Leprosy, the cause of Leprosy, what deformity develops in Leprosy, what is the treatment of Leprosy and so many other information which I will tell you. your comments are valuable to me.