Leprosy Mailing List – July 25th, 2007
Ref.: Leprosy
statistics: global trend of new case detection 1985-2006
From: Narasimha Rao P.,
Hyderabad, India
Ref: Ryan T, LML July 23rd,
2007 - Indian experience
Dear
Salvatore,
Like
your other correspondents who responded to these statistics, many
Indian workers too, do not believe these statistics. It is because there are many
leprosy patients, especially lepromatous type, are being seen in
OPDs as new patients. Most Dermatologists and many Leprologists
agree that leprosy is far from a eliminated disease in
India. Four weeks back I have seen a 20 year old patient
with LL lesions in oral mucosa and palate with diffuse
infiltration all over body and another LL patient of 30 years of
age with Erythema Necroticans.
However, the fact is that leprosy was
officially eliminated from India in 2005. The direction for
the process of elimination, the methods and the 'Final push' came from
highest authorities of leprosy programme. It was followed in toto which
enabled India to reach the elimination goal. Many workers who
were 'over diagnosing' leprosy cases were corrected in the process.
As
Leprosy was officially eliminated from India, the funding
has dwindled and most leprosy NGO's shifted to HIV/AIDs works for
pecuniary reasons. Even
the remaining leprosy workers of Government of India has more
duties listed under HIV/AIDs sub-heading than in Leprosy. This is one of the
important reasons for non-identification of leprosy patients in the
community. This may pose a great danger in future.
The
important reason for laudable success of leprosy programme world
wide for the first two decades has been due to the
excellent direction given/shown by the top managers and
executives of the programme. Should we be searching for the
reasons for the present state of affairs some where else?
P. Narasimha Rao
