New Delhi: Of the new leprosy cases reported during 2015 globally, India accounted for the largest number, the Centre said today.
"Analysis of geographical distribution of leprosy by World Health Organization (WHO) shows that India accounted for the largest number of cases of leprosy at 60 per cent of the global new cases reported during 2015 by 136 countries," Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
With a view to eliminating leprosy from the country, a three-pronged strategy was adopted during 2016-17 for early detection of the disease among community, he said.The strategy includes organising leprosy case detection campaign for high endemic districts, focused leprosy campaign for hot spots and specific plan for case detection in hard- to-reach areas, the Minister said.
All detected cases are provided standard treatment in accordance with programme guidelines, he said."For National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), funds are provided to states and UTs under the National Health Mission. A budget provision of Rs 46 crore has been made for NLEP for the Financial Year 2017-18," he added.
