NATIONAL LEPROSY ERADICATION
PROGRAMME
Simplified Study Notes (BAMS 2nd Prof)
1. Introduction & History
The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is a major government scheme to stop
the spread of leprosy and treat affected people. Here is how it started:
• 1955: Started as the National Leprosy Control Programme using a single medicine
(Dapsone).
• 1983: Renamed to National Leprosy Eradication Programme after highly effective Multi-Drug
Therapy (MDT) was introduced.
• Goal: Reduce the number of cases to less than 1 per 10,000 people.
• 2005 Success: India successfully reached this national goal in December 2005. Now,
leprosy services are provided in normal government hospitals instead of special leprosy
clinics.
2. Main Parts of the Programme
To completely eradicate the disease, the program focuses on five key areas:
1. General Hospital Care: Treating leprosy patients in regular hospitals and clinics.
2. Training: Educating doctors, nurses, and health workers about leprosy.
3. Spreading Awareness (IEC): Educating the public to remove the fear and social stigma
associated with leprosy.
4. Preventing Disability: Providing care to stop physical deformities in patients.
5. Monitoring: Strict supervision to make sure patients get proper medicines on time.
3. Important Steps Taken
A. Finding and Treating Patients
The focus is on finding new cases early. State governments calculate the Treatment
Completion Rate every year to ensure patients finish their full course of medicine.
B. Preventing Disability and Rehabilitation (DPMR)
The government provides free services to help those disabled by leprosy:
• Wound Care: Free dressing materials and medicines for skin ulcers.
• Special Shoes: Free Micro-Cellular Rubber (MCR) footwear to protect numb feet from
injury.
• Reconstructive Surgery (RCS): Surgeries to fix deformed hands or feet are done at 83
special centers across India.
Financial Help for Surgery:
• Patients from poor (BPL) families get Rs. 5000 to cover their loss of wages during the
surgery.
• The hospital doing the surgery also gets Rs. 5000 per operation.
C. Leprosy Colonies
There are over 612 colonies in India where leprosy-affected people live. The program sends
health workers there regularly to provide free medical checkups, wound care, and training on
how to self-care.
4. Role of ASHA Workers
ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are local village women who help the
program. Their job is to find people with leprosy symptoms, bring them to the doctor, and make
sure they take their medicines daily.
To motivate them, ASHAs are paid extra money:
ASHA Duty Payment Amount
Rs. 250 (under special
If a suspected case is confirmed as leprosy
scheme)
When patient finishes a short treatment course (PB
Rs. 200 to Rs. 400
Leprosy)
When patient finishes a long treatment course (MB
Rs. 400 to Rs. 600
Leprosy)
5. Urban Leprosy Control Programme
Started in 2005, this plan is specially made for big cities because they have many migrant
workers, slums, and crowded areas.
• Cities are grouped by population size (e.g., small towns, medium cities, mega cities).
• Special doctors and NGOs are assigned to different slum areas.
• Mobile Clinics: Vans with doctors visit slums and migrant areas to provide regular
treatments.
• Family members of a leprosy patient are strictly checked for symptoms.
6. Targets and NGO Partners
A. Programme Targets
The government set strict targets to measure success:
• Cure rate of Multibacillary (severe) cases must be above 95%.
• Cure rate of Paucibacillary (mild) cases must be above 97%.
• Reduce Grade-II physical deformities by at least 35%.
• Reduce social stigma and fear by 50%.
B. NGO Support (ILEP)
The program is supported by international organizations known as ILEP (International
Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations). 10 major groups help India, including The Leprosy
Mission, Damien Foundation, and Lepra India. They help by doing surgeries, giving training, and
donating funds.
7. BAMS Perspective (Ayurveda View)
In Ayurveda, leprosy correlates with Kushtha Roga (Mahakushtha). The NLEP's focus on
early detection is very similar to the Ayurvedic principle of treating a disease before it
spreads deep into the bodily tissues (Dhatu-gata).
By finding the disease while it is still on the surface (Tvacha-gata) and giving immediate
Multi-Drug Therapy, we prevent permanent nerve damage and deformities. This aligns
perfectly with the Ayurvedic goal of both curing the disease and ensuring the patient can
live a healthy, normal life.