Madhya Pradesh speedily becoming leprosy-free

Bhopal, Jan 5: Madhya Pradesh is becoming leprosy-free by speedily attaining the target rate set by the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.

''As per the Centre's target for December 2005, the occurrence rate was set at one or less per 10,000. We met that target in March 2005 and the present rate of occurrence is 0.66 per 10,000. By November 2006, 4,461 patients were undergoing treatment in the state,'' Commissioner (Health) Rajesh Rajora said yesterday while addressing a day-long meeting of district leprosy officers here.

Pointing out that enhancing public awareness and intensive diagnosis were imperative for bringing the rate to zero, the bureaucrat said the Leprosy Rehabilitation Unit at the city-based medical college was being strengthened and five beds arranged.

''A proposal is being drafted for five such beds at the Jabalpur Medical College,'' Dr Rajora added.

While the rate is below one per 10,000 in 41 districts, Bhopal, Sidhi, Jhabua, Harda, Anuppur and Badwani are below 1.86. Of 313 blocks, two have attained the zero mark while it is less than one in 253 blocks, between one and 1.9 in seven blocks and hovers between two and five in 11 blocks.

Camps will be set up in every block this month as part of timebound programmes. A leprosy fortnight is scheduled in February while a review will take place in March.

UNI