More than 8.5 crore citizens will be surveyed for Leprosy and tuberculosis

To eradicate leprosy in the state, the Public Health Department will launch a door-to-door detection campaign for leprosy and tuberculosis in 2025 from January 31 to February 14. The initiative aims to survey approximately 8.66 crore citizens in rural and selected urban areas during this period, as per the report by Loksatta.

Due to the continuous efforts made by the Health Department for the eradication of leprosy from the past few years, it is seen that the number of leprosy patients in the state has decreased. In 2023-24, the leprosy rate per thousand was 1.16 percent and in 2024-25, i.e. by the end of September 2024, it came down to 1.07 percent. The health department has decided to further reduce this number.

Leprosy survey will be conducted in all rural and selected urban areas of the state. For this, 70,768 search teams will be formed and 1 crore 73 lakh houses will be visited and a survey of leprosy and tuberculosis will be conducted. January 30 is the Leprosy Prevention Day celebrated on the occasion of the death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

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On this occasion, the Leprosy and Tuberculosis awareness campaign will be implemented from January 31 to February 14, 2024. Various activities will be implemented across the state for public awareness and public participation. Gram sabhas will be held in all gram panchayats of the state on January 26 to create widespread public awareness about leprosy.

Even though efforts are being made at various levels to eliminate leprosy, the disease has not been eradicated due to fear and misunderstanding in the society. There was a slight increase in the number of patients after Corona infection. However, as soon as the corona virus was over, the health department undertook a massive campaign to find patients. Director of Health Department Dr. Nitin Ambedkar said that the number of leprosy patients has decreased as the maximum number of patients have been detected and treated at the earliest.