A survey to detect leprosy cases will be taken up in 87 high endemic blocks spread across 24 districts in Tamil Nadu. The initiative is aimed at creating intensive awareness in the blocks, and to detect cases that are missed.
Of the total 385 rural blocks in Tamil Nadu, 87 were found to be highly endemic. Of the total 117 urban blocks, 13 were highly endemic areas, S. Mohammed Afzal Ali, additional director of medical and rural health services (Leprosy), said.
“These blocks had more than 10 new cases per lakh population last year. According to the Central Leprosy Division, surveys should be taken up in blocks that accounted for more than 10 new cases per lakh population. We are taking into account the Annual New Case Detection Rate (ANCDR) as it is a better indicator. So far, leprosy cases are reported when people voluntarily approach health facilities and we want to move towards actively looking for cases through this survey,” he said.
From April 2017 to March 2018, the State had 4,277 new cases, registering an ANCDR of 5.36 per lakh population, S. Thirunavukkarasu, State leprosy consultant, pointed out.
There were 264 new cases during the period in Chennai alone.
10-day survey
“The survey — Active Leprosy Case Finding — will be taken up in the 87 blocks from July 2 to 13. Prior to this, we will be training village health nurses, staff of the Integrated Child Development Service scheme, nursing students and volunteers of the National Service Scheme. They will cover 50 houses per day. They will display a flash card containing images of skin patches, and ask the residents if anybody in the family has such lesions. They will also check the hands and legs for lesions,” Dr. Ali said.
Immediate treatment
In case any person who has symptoms suggestive of leprosy, he/she would be referred to the supervisor for confirmation. If the diagnosis is positive, immediate treatment under Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) would be initiated, he added. “The team will also carry out IEC activities such as putting up banners and distributing handbills to the public. Three to five skin camps will be conducted in each block simultaneously,” he said.
This initiative would help in detecting new cases at the early stage itself, Dr. Ali said.
He said a proposal has been sent to the Mission Director of National Health Mission to take up active case search in the 13 high endemic urban areas. “This year, we will be screening urban slum population and vulnerable population such as persons in old age homes, orphanages, workers in brick kilns, factories and construction sites. We will be screening school children too,” he said.
G. Sridevi, deputy director (Leprosy), Chennai, said the stigma attached to the disease is still high. “People should understand that it is a simple infection caused by bacteria and is completely curable with MDT,” she said.
Three to five skin camps will be conducted in each block simultaneously
S. Mohammed Afzal Ali,
Additional director of medical and rural health services (Leprosy)
