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G. H. A. Hansen (1841-1912)Prior to formation of Separate state, Maharashtra was the part of Bombay Province till 1960. Post of State Leprosy Officer was in existence since 1943 and was filled in 1949, the main duty then included advising the Govt. on leprosy services based on sample surveys conducted by him. Then the available leprosy services included leprosy asyla run by missionaries to provide sheltered segregation and treatment with hydnocarpus oil. In 1951 treatment with sulphones was initiated.
| 1942 | Leprosy Hospital at Kondhawa taken over by Govt. from the " Mission to Lepers". |
| 1944 | Leprosy Hospital Ratnagiri taken over by Govt. from District Local Board. |
| 1950 | Scheme for Leprosy Control Work in a limited area under Hind Kushtha Nivaran Sangh. |
| 1953 | Leprosy Control Centre established at Ambewadi in district Sangali. Pilot projects for leprosy control started at Vairag dist. Solapur, Mul dist. Chandrapur, Sevagram dist. Wardha. |
| 1955 | Treatment with DDS tablets introduced in all local bodies and Govt. hospitals, 1st documentary film on leprosy prepared by Directorate of Publicity. Greater Bombay Leprosy Control Scheme of Bombay Municipal Corporation in collaboration with Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation and State Govt. |
| 1955 – 56 | Launch of National Leprosy Control Program throughout the country including state with following principles i) Detection of all cases especially those of the infectious type at as early as possible ii) Provision of treatment facilities to all patients so detected and iii) Health Education to create a favorable atmosphere which will help both in case detection as well as case holding program. |
| 1958 | SET centre attached to existing dispensaries and centres started. Thereafter with every 5 year plan SET centres, leprosy control units and urban leprosy centres were established in the entire state. |
| Post of state leprosy officer was upgraded to Deputy Director (Health) in 1965 and further upgraded to Joint Director (Health) in 1981 |
| Milestones of NLEP in Maharashtra | |
| 1955 – 1956 | launch of National Leprosy Control Programme. |
| 1970s | Definite cure through MDT was identified |
| 1983 | launching of National Leprosy Eradication Programme., Multi Drug Therapy introduced in selected urban area & Wardha district. |
| 1983 – 1997 | Remaining districts brought under MDT in phased manner. |
| 1993 – 2000 | World Bank Assisted NLEP Project Phase – I |
| Objectives | |
| 1. | To support vertical programme structure for endemic dists. Jan. 1997: Implementation of National Leprosy Elimination. |
| 2. | Establishment of Mobile Leprosy Treatment Unit (MLTU) in moderate & low endemic dists. |
| 3. | Formation of district leprosy societies. Jan. 1997: Implementation of National Leprosy Elimination |
| Strategy | |
| Main Activities–Programme renamed as National Leprosy Elimination Programme with an objective to bring down the P R of leprosy to below 1 per 10,000 population. | |
| 1998 | Introduction of ROM in the state. |
| 30 Jan 98–5 Feb 98 | 1st Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign |
| Main Activities 3 day technical training for GHCS staff, One month IEC Campaign, Active leprosy search with the help of GHC staff | |
| 30 Jan 99 – 5 Feb 99 | Additional M L E C (1998–99) GOM |
| 30 Jan 2000–6 Feb 2000 | II M L E C (1999–2000) GOI |
| 30 & 31 Jan 2000 | V R C |
| Oct 2000 – Mar 2004 | World Bank Assisted NLEP Phase–II |
| 2001 – 2002 | III M L E C, V R C – 30th &31st Oct.2001 |
| 2002 – 2003 | IV Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign. |
| 2003 – 2004 | V Modified Leprosy Elimination. |
| 2004 – 2005 | Block Leprosy Awareness Campaign |
| 2005 – 2006 | Block Leprosy Awareness Campaign II |
| 2005 – 2007 | Extended Leprosy Eradication Programme |
Objectives
-
To reduce the load of infection in community by converting the bacteriologically positive cases to bacteriological negativity in order to interrupt the transmission of infection in the community.
Leprosy patient - To reduce the prevalence rate of leprosy to a level when leprosy is no longer a major public health hazard i.e less than one case per 10,000 population.
- Ultimately to rid the country of the disease.
The objectives of National Leprosy Eradication Programme
- Early detection of leprosy cases.
- All detected leprosy patient should be brought under regular treatment so as to break the chain of transmission and to cure them without deformity.
- Health education regarding scientific information of Leprosy should be given to the leprosy patients, his family and society.
World Bank Assisted NLEP Project Phase - I
Objectives
- To support vertical programme structure for endemic districts.
- Establishment of Mobile Leprosy Treatment Unit (MLTU) in moderate and low endemic districts.
- Formation of district leprosy societies.
Objectives
- To achieve elimination by the end of 2005.
- To rapidly & effectively integrate vertical programme of leprosy eradication with general health care system. To achieve these objective emphasis should be laid on following points.
- To detect new cases (Tribal, Difficult Hilly area) at the early stage.
- To bring them under MDT.
- To provide health education.
- Render services of POD to avoid deformity.
- To provide physiotherapy to needy leprosy patients.
- To perform reconstructive surgery on needy leprosy patients.
| Mile stones | Mar.04 | Mar. 05 | Dec.05 | Mar.06 | Mar.07 | Mar.09 | Mar.12 |
| PR/10000 | 2.87 | 1.57 | 0.94 | 0.88 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| No.of districts having PR<1 | 0 0% | 7 20% | 29 85% | 34 100% | 34 100% | 34 100% | 34 100% |
| No.of Municipal Corporations having PR<1 | 1 5% | 8 36% | 22 100% | 22 100% | 22 100% | 22 100% | 22 100% |
| No. of Blocks having PR <1 | 33 9.73% | 78 23% | 118 33% | 152 45% | 203 60% | 271 80% | 339 100% |
| No. of PHCs | 232 | 578 | 982 | 1160 | 1340 | 1518 | 1786 |
| having PR<1 | -13.06% | -32.36% | -55% | -65% | -75% | -85% | -100% |
| NCDR | 4.3 | 3.11 | 1.59 | 1.59 | 1.14 | 0.8 | 0.75 |
| SC NCDR | 5.59 | 4.54 | 2.12 | 2.12 | 1.53 | 1 | 0.75 |
| SC NCDR | 7.84 | 6.91 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.45 | 1.25 | 0.75 |
| MB proportion of New cases | 32.12 | 36.84 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 65 | 70 |
| Disability proportion | 1.31 | 1.3 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Female proportion | 40.96 | 42.13 | 44 | 44 | 45 | 50 | 50 |
