J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare reviewed the progress in the national programmes for Leprosy and Kala Azar, here today. B P Sharma, Secretary (HFW), Dr Saumya Swaminathan, Secretary (DHR) and DG (ICMR), Dr. (Prof) Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, Shri K B Agarwal, Addl. Secretary and other senior officials of the Health Ministry were also present on this occasion.The Union Health Minister was briefed on the progress towards elimination of Kala Azar in the affected States (Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh) covering issues such as availability of the synthetic Pyrethroid spray, manpower availability to operate the stirrup pumps, awareness campaigns undertaken by the States etc. Shri Nadda has directed for aggressive campaigns to be carried out for meeting the target dates for elimination of Kala Azar from the endemic districts. The Health Minister has also directed the Ministry to work in close coordination with the States and review the progress made by the States in the next three months. Shri Nadda also reviewed the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP).
The Health Minister was briefed on the various initiates undertaken under the programme. In order to improve detection of new cases of leprosy, an intensive house-to-house Leprosy Case Detection Drive in a campaign mode has been conducted in 50 high endemic districts in seven states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. More than 60,000 new cases were detected through this aggressive detection drive. Secretary (DHR) stated that an online reporting software with patient-tracking facility is being developed which will assist in more effective tracking and monitoring of the cases. A GIS application to correlate the distribution of the disease with epidemiological factors is already operational. Also, a taskforce with various stakeholders from different Ministries has been formed for mainstreaming of Leprosy colonies. The Union Health Minister has directed that the active case detection drive shall be expanded to cover 163 districts, while the drive shall continue in the present 50 districts. The Union Minister and Secretary (HFW) shall review progress made by the States after three months. An expert committee shall be formed under the Chairpersonship of DG (ICMR) to recommend introduction of Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP) vaccine as an immune-prophylaxis in the high endemic states. Emphasizing on the need for enhancing awareness about the disease and sensitizing people on issues of social stigma surrounding it, Shri Nadda has also directed for a high visibility multi-media IEC campaign to be undertaken in these States among the affected communities along with capacity building of the medical and para-medical staff.