About NLEP

The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) was launched in 1983 in India, the country most endemic for leprosy. It replaced the National Leprosy Control Programme, which was based on single-drug therapy with Dapsone, with the aim of eliminating leprosy through the introduction of Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) in all districts.

NLEP is fully sponsored by the Central Government. It also receives support from many other quarters. In 1993, the World Bank pledged massive financial assistance for 6 years. This programme was extended for another 3 years in 2001. Free MDT drugs are being supplied by WHO, which also supports the programme in Bihar and helps monitor it. Among the various organisations backing NLEP is Danida, which is active in Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

Interruption of the transmission of leprosy—made possible by MDT—is central to the NLEP strategy, as this would steadily bring down the number of cases. The emphasis is on early detection and effective treatment. The NLEP activities consist of:

• Providing domiciliary MDT in endemic districts
• Providing MDT services in other districts
• Intensive case detection activities
• Providing health education to patients and the community
• Offering rehabilitation services.

Paramedical workers form the backbone of the programme.

The country's districts are all covered by NLEP now, and all District Leprosy Societies have been given funds to provide free MDT services. By March 1998, 8.07 million patients, ie. 80 per cent of all cases worldwide, had been cured by MDT. The number of registered cases decreased from 4 million in 1981 to 0.3 million by the end of 2003. The government is also actively collaborating with 285 voluntary organisations.