Need to eradicate leprosy stressed
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 7: Even as India is eying to achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027, Manipur must become the first State in the country to eradicate the disease, said Manipur State Leprosy Officer Dr Salam Bocha Singh.
Speaking at a media sensitisation programme held at premises of the Health Directorate at Lamphelpat today, the State Leprosy Officer said India has already achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in 2005 and is working towards completely eradicating it by 2027.
India achieved elimination status as per WHO criteria of less than 1 case per 10,000 population at the National level in 2005.
"Manipur achieved the elimination status much before in 2001. This time, the State should become the first in the country to completely eradicate the disease and achieve zero transmission," he said.
Even though Manipur has achieved the elimination status, the State has recorded some cases, he said.
Notably, the prevalence of leprosy rate per 10,000 population in Manipur was 0.1 as per the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) data during 2022-23.
Manipur has a total of 21 leprosy cases at present and they are receiving treatment, Dr Bocha said.
From April 2024 to January 7, 2025, Manipur has recorded 11 cases, reported from Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur.
Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul, Jiribam and Senapati district have no cases at present.
To achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027, the Government of India has National Strategic Plan (NSP) & Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) in 2023.
The NSP & Roadmap focuses on awareness for zero stigma and discrimination, promotion of early case detection, prevention of disease transmission by prophylaxis (Leprosy Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and roll out of web-based information portal (Nikusth 2.0) for reporting of leprosy cases.
People shouldn't hide the symptoms for fear of stigma associated with it. Leprosy is a curable disease, but if it's not detected and treated early, it can cause permanent disabilities and deformities, Dr Bocha said.
The incubation period for leprosy may vary and it may take 10-20 years for symptoms to show. On an average, the incubation period is about 5-7 years, he said.
Leprosy is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, which multiplies very slowly. It is not highly contagious. About 90 percent of people worldwide have natural immunity to the disease, Dr Bocha added.
He informed that a patient who possesses a leprosy card may avail treatment and drugs in any place in India.
IMPHAL, Jan 7: Even as India is eying to achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027, Manipur must become the first State in the country to eradicate the disease, said Manipur State Leprosy Officer Dr Salam Bocha Singh.
Speaking at a media sensitisation programme held at premises of the Health Directorate at Lamphelpat today, the State Leprosy Officer said India has already achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in 2005 and is working towards completely eradicating it by 2027.
India achieved elimination status as per WHO criteria of less than 1 case per 10,000 population at the National level in 2005.
"Manipur achieved the elimination status much before in 2001. This time, the State should become the first in the country to completely eradicate the disease and achieve zero transmission," he said.
Even though Manipur has achieved the elimination status, the State has recorded some cases, he said.
Notably, the prevalence of leprosy rate per 10,000 population in Manipur was 0.1 as per the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) data during 2022-23.
Manipur has a total of 21 leprosy cases at present and they are receiving treatment, Dr Bocha said.
From April 2024 to January 7, 2025, Manipur has recorded 11 cases, reported from Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur.
Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul, Jiribam and Senapati district have no cases at present.
To achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027, the Government of India has National Strategic Plan (NSP) & Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) in 2023.
The NSP & Roadmap focuses on awareness for zero stigma and discrimination, promotion of early case detection, prevention of disease transmission by prophylaxis (Leprosy Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and roll out of web-based information portal (Nikusth 2.0) for reporting of leprosy cases.
People shouldn't hide the symptoms for fear of stigma associated with it. Leprosy is a curable disease, but if it's not detected and treated early, it can cause permanent disabilities and deformities, Dr Bocha said.
The incubation period for leprosy may vary and it may take 10-20 years for symptoms to show. On an average, the incubation period is about 5-7 years, he said.
Leprosy is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, which multiplies very slowly. It is not highly contagious. About 90 percent of people worldwide have natural immunity to the disease, Dr Bocha added.
He informed that a patient who possesses a leprosy card may avail treatment and drugs in any place in India.