Leprosy prevalence rate more than one in five MP districts

Bhopal, Apr 13 (UNI) Five districts in Madhya Pradesh still has a leprosy prevalence rate of 1-1.94 per 10,000 -- more than the national standard of less than one per 10,000.

According to figures provided by Health Commissioner Rajesh Rajora, leprosy prevalence rate in Madhya Pradesh is 0.59 per 10,000.

However, prevalence rate in Harda, Annupur, Bhopal, Khandwa and Badwani was between 1-1.94. Other 43 districts had a prevalence rate of less than one.

The Centre had set a target of reducing leprosy prevalence rate to less than one per 10,000 by December 2005. Madhya Pradesh achieved the target in March 2005.

As many as 4,024 leprosy patients were registered and receiving treatment until March 2007, while 5,173 leprosy patients had been searched out.

Likewise, 6,049 patients were discharged after being treated.

Dr Rajora said leprosy prevalence rate in Madhya Pradesh was between 85 to 90 per 10,000 when the National Leprosy Eradication Programme started in 1954-55.

In 1987, multi-drug treatment for leprosy patients was introduced. At that time, the prevalence rate was 43.4 per 10,000 and the number of patients 1,68,200.

He said intense search campaign was being carried out to find out leprosy patients in the state.

Under the eleventh five-year plan, the Centre has proposed to run schemes for prevention of the disease and rehabilitation of patients from 2007-12.

UNI