Lok Sabha Question No. 3950 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: World Leprosy Day
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3950 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH March, 2021

## WORLD LEPROSY DAY

3950. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  observed  World Leprosy  day  recently,  if  so,  the  detai ls thereof along with the theme of the event and initiatives taken by the Government to make the event successful;
- (b)  whether  the  progress  in  leprosy  eradication under  National  Leprosy  Eradication Programme started in the country has been tardy if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the estimated number of leprosy patients in the country, State/UT - wise;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any survey  to  ascertain  the  socio - economic conditions of the leprosy patients in the country and if so, the details and the findings thereof;
- (e)  whether  any  assistance  is  being  extended including  free  medicines  to  leprosy  patients considering their pathetic condition of living and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the measures being taken by the Government to erad icate leprosy from the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) : In  India,  Anti  Leprosy  Day  is  observed  on  30 th January  every  year,  i.e.  Mahatma Gandhiji's martyrdom day, as Gandhiji was deeply committed to the cause of leprosy. To commemorate the anti - leprosy day, Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaigns (SLAC) are being organized since 2017 in order to reduce stigma and discrimination against persons suffering from  leprosy.  During SLACs,  nationwide  Gram  Sabhas  in  villages  across  the  country  are organised  in  cooperation  and  coordination  with  allied  sectors  of  health  depart Appropriate messages  from  District  Magistrates  and  appeals  from  Gram  Sabha  Pramukhs (Heads  of  Village  coun cils) to  reduce  discrimination  against  persons  affected  with leprosy are read out; pledge is taken by all Gram Sabha members to reduce the burden disease in the community, and felicitation of persons affected with leprosy is done. community  is  e ncouraged  to  participate  in  these  meetings,  and  school  children  a encouraged to spread awareness about the disease through plays, posters etc.

In the year 2021 too, the States were requested to organise SLACs (Sparsh Lepr Awareness  Campaigns)  on  30 th January.  The  focus  of  SLACs  this  year  was  to  make  the community aware about the importance of early detection of leprosy followed by compl treatment in order to prevent physical disabilities. SLACs were conducted this year s from 30 th Januaryto 13 th February 2021.

The following activities were performed by states/ UTs during SLACs:

1. Appeals  from  Gram  Sabha  Pramukh  /  Members  of  the  Panchayati  Raj  Institutes  / Medical  officers  were  made  to  remove  stigma  and  discrimination  against persons affected with leprosy.
2. Street  plays  were  enacted  by  school  children.  Other  cultural  programs  were  hel disseminate educative messages about leprosy.
3. Question Answer sessions were held involving Frequently Asked Questions.
4. Banners  and  posters  carrying important  messages  on  leprosy  were  displayed  at  high visibility places to promote Information, Education and Communication (IEC) about disease.
5. Leprosy  messages  were  also  disseminated  through  Public  Address  Systems  at  some places .
6. Three Short Films (TV Cs) on leprosy, developed by Central Leprosy Division, were run through  multimedia  devices  in meetings,  and  other  relevant  gatherings  held  during SLACs.
7. A pledge was taken by community members not to discriminate against persons affect with leprosy.
8. Disa bility Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation(DPMR) activities were conducted many places, wherein leprosy affected persons were provided self - care kits, Microcellular rubber(MCR) footwear etc.
9. Besides,  in  connection  with  the  commemoration  of  world  NTD  ( Neglected  Tropical Diseases) Day, 2021, Qutab Minar was illuminated as a part of global activity. Ov monuments across the world were illuminated on NTD day. Leprosy happens to be one of the NTDs in India. Banners related to leprosy were also displayed , along with other NTDs, at the illuminated Qutab Minar.

(b); Under National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP), India has achieved enormous success in leprosy control and elimination. Leprosy elimination, which means Preval Rate < 1  case/ 10,000 population, was achieved at the National level in 2005. Minist Health  &  Family  Welfare,  Government  of  India  is  constantly  taking  steps  to  achi elimination  of  Leprosy  at  the  sub - national  level,  i.e.  upto  the  district  level.  A  consis nt progress is being made in this regard as is evident from the table below:

| Financial Year   |   No. of districts with prevalence less |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 2016-17          |                                     554 |
| 2017 -18         |                                     572 |
| 2018 -19         |                                     588 |
| 2019- 20         |                                     610 |

Besides, other indicators related to leprosy are also showing consistent improvement as can be seen from the table below :

| Financial Year   |   PR |   Child Cases percentage |   G2D% |   G2D Per million |
|------------------|------|--------------------------|--------|-------------------|
| 2014- 15         | 0.69 |                     9.04 |   4.61 |              4.48 |
| 2015- 16         | 0.66 |                     8.94 |   4.6  |              4.46 |
| 2016- 17         | 0.66 |                     8.69 |   3.82 |              3.89 |
| 2017- 18         | 0.67 |                     8.15 |   3.61 |              3.34 |
| 2018- 19         | 0.62 |                     7.67 |   3.05 |              2.65 |
| 2019- 20         | 0.57 |                     6.87 |   2.41 |              1.96 |

It's  important to mention that leprosy has a long incubation period, and, therefore, leprosy eradication becomes a long drawn process. However, all efforts are being made under NLEP to make India leprosy free.

(c) : The  State/UT - wise  number  of  new  leprosy  patients  in  the  country  is  placed  a Annexure.

(d): No  survey  has  been  conducted  to  ascertain  the  socio - economic  condition  of  the leprosy patients in the country under NLEP. However, all diagnostic and treatment facil are provided free of cost to all leprosy patients across the board at all Government H Facilities. Besides, all aids and appliances including MCR footwear, and DP MR services are also provided free of cost to all needy persons affected by leprosy.

(e): The treatment for uncomplicated leprosy patients is available up to the Primary H Centre (PHC) level. The entire treatment for leprosy patients is provided fre e of cost across the board under NLEP at all Government Healthcare Facilities The complicated cases treated  in  District  Hospitals  and  Tertiary  care  hospitals  free  of  cost.  Medical  ser leprosy  are  integrated  with  other  general  health  services, as  there  should  not  be  any discrimination  attached  against  patients  suffering  from  leprosy.  DPMR  services  incl Reconstructive Surgeries (RCS) are also provided free of cost under NLEP. One time wel allowance of Rs 8000/ -is also paid under NLEP to each person undergoing RCS.

- (f) : Government of India has committed to achieve target of Leprosy Free India. In or to achieve this target, Government has launched several initiatives, such as; (i) Active Cas Detection and Regular Surveillance, both in rural and urban areas in order to ensure detection of leprosy cases on regular basis and at early stage in order to prevent grade II disa Convergence  of  leprosy  screening  under  Rashtriya  Bal  Swasthya  Karyakram  (RBSK)  and Rashtriya Kishore Swa sthya Karyakram (RKSK) for screening of children (0 - 18 years) and under comprehensive Primary Health Care Package under Ayushman Bharat for screening of people  above  30  years  of  age. In  addition,  various  services  are  being  provided  under  the programme  forDisability  Prevention  and  Medical  Rehabilitation  (DPMR)  i.e.,  reactio management,  provision  of  MCR  footwear,  Aids  &  Appliances,  referral  services  fo management  of  cases  and  Reconstructive  surgery  at  District  Hospitals  and  Medic Colleges/Central  leprosy Institutes.  Ultimately,  it  is  the  early  case  detection  followe complete treatment that will lead the country towards leprosy free status.

## State/UT - wise number of new leprosy patients

| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | New Cases Detected in F.Y. 2017 -18   | New Cases Detected in F.Y. 2018 -19   | New Cases Detected in F.Y. 2019 -20   |
|-----------|-------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    | 4695                                  | 5294                                  | 4685                                  |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh | 25                                    | 39                                    | 30                                    |
| 3         | Assam             | 987                                   | 940                                   | 850                                   |
| 4         | Bihar             | 21353                                 | 17154                                 | 16595                                 |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh      | 10474                                 | 8322                                  | 8905                                  |
| 6         | Goa               | 108                                   | 92                                    | 79                                    |
| 7         | Gujarat           | 6894                                  | 5218                                  | 4081                                  |
| 8         | Haryana           | 443                                   | 447                                   | 398                                   |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh  | 129                                   | 150                                   | 141                                   |
| 10        | Jharkhand         | 5230                                  | 4942                                  | 6160                                  |
| 11        | Jammu & Kashmir   | 149                                   | 120                                   | 110                                   |
| 12        | Karnataka         | 2892                                  | 2789                                  | 2724                                  |
| 13        | Kerala            | 520                                   | 705                                   | 675                                   |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh    | 6523                                  | 6294                                  | 8020                                  |
| 15        | Maharashtra       | 16065                                 | 15299                                 | 16572                                 |
| 16        | Manipur           | 24                                    | 22                                    | 21                                    |
| 17        | Meghalaya         | 16                                    | 13                                    | 17                                    |
| 18        | Mizoram           | 11                                    | 5                                     | 5                                     |
| 19        | Nagaland          | 38                                    | 35                                    | 36                                    |
| 20        | Odisha            | 9576                                  | 10786                                 | 10077                                 |
| 21        | Punjab            | 509                                   | 495                                   | 531                                   |
| 22        | Rajasthan         | 992                                   | 1088                                  | 1124                                  |
| 23        | Sikkim            | 21                                    | 13                                    | 19                                    |
| 24        | Tamil Nadu        | 4277                                  | 4793                                  | 4252                                  |
| 25        | Telangana         | 2910                                  | 3545                                  | 4001                                  |
| 26        | Tripura           | 32                                    | 26                                    | 73                                    |
| 27        | Uttar Pradesh     | 19337                                 | 20951                                 | 15484                                 |
| 28        | Uttarakhand       | 310                                   | 318                                   | 320                                   |
| 29        | West Bengal       | 9527                                  | 8185                                  | 6208                                  |
| 30        | A & N Islands     | 32                                    | 13                                    | 20                                    |
| 31        | Chandigarh        | 128                                   | 149                                   | 134                                   |
| 32        | D & N Haveli      | 273                                   | 261                                   | 200                                   |
| 33        | Daman & Diu       | 19                                    | 27                                    | 29                                    |
| 34        | Delhi             | 1580                                  | 1769                                  | 1824                                  |
| 35        | Lakshadweep       | 15                                    | 3                                     | 0                                     |
| 36        | Ladakh            | NA                                    | NA                                    | 2                                     |
| 37        | Puducherry        | 50                                    | 32                                    | 49                                    |
|           | Total             | 1,26,164                              | 1,20,334                              | 1,14,451                              |

## Annexure