In India alone 1.5 million new cases were detected within 6 years (from 2002 to 2007)

Leprosy Mailing List, March 16^th, 2009

 

Ref.:    In India alone 1.5 million new cases were detected within 6 years (from 2002 to 2007)

From:  Vijayakrishnan B., Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh , India

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Dear Dr Salvatore,

 

Elisabeth Poorman (LML March 2^nd, 2009) reflected the feelings of people who work with the people affected by leprosy.  The word elimination had a political impact.  It has resulted in reduced attention and reduced funding in leprosy.  The whole attention was diverted to prevalence rate which speaks only the number alive on the registers who currently takes MDT at given point in time.  I think Poorman is rightly concerned about the majority of leprosy sufferers who need attention.  I don’t think the condition of persons affected by leprosy after 6 or 12 months of MDT is equivalent to ‘persons with residual evidence of small pox’ as referred by Dr Vijayakumaran (LML March 3^rd, 2009).

 

In India alone 1.5 million new cases were detected within 6 years (from 2002 to 2007). Though we have programme plans to handle reactions and complications, fieldworkers get frustrated with the plight of patients who do not conform to expectations of ‘cure’. There is need for more research and interventions in leprosy than it is available now.

 

With best wishes,

 

Vijay

Director, Programmes Development, LEPRA Society.