The leprosy cases have come down in Odisha from 10,077 in 2019-20 to 5,729 in 2021-22. The state has logged a decline of the disease prevalence rate per 10,000 population i.e., from 1.45 to 0.89 during the above period.

There is also a decline of absolute number of Grade-2 deformity (G2D) from 200 cases in 2019-20 to 178 in 2020-21 and 164 in 2021-22, the State government informed the Orissa High Court.

Out of a total of patients, 98 per cent do not have any deformity/ulcer and are being treated with six months of Multi Drug Therapy (MDT), provided by the government health agencies. The remaining 2 per cent have a neurological deficit, deformity or ulcers which are taken care of by ulcer kits, Disability Prevention & Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) clinics, physiotherapy, and reconstructive surgery (RCS).

Most of the treatment is home-based to prevent discrimination, stigma and for mainstreaming of these patients, the affidavit filed leprosy monitoring committee of the government informed.

The division bench of Orissa High Court had earlier asked the government on the update of leprosy prevalence in the State while hearing the petition filed by the State Leprosy Welfare Federation. The outfit had sought the HC’s intervention for the proper implementation of National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in Odisha.

The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) has been implemented in Odisha since 1981.

All Paramedical staff and Health workers working from village level to district level are trained to treat the patients suffering from communicable diseases including Leprosy, the report said.

After the launching of the National Health Mission, all healthcare professionals have been trained for detection and treatment of all communicable diseases including Leprosy.

Seven trained surgeons in 12 high-burden districts like Bolangir, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpuf, Nuapada, Sonpur, & Leprosy Home & Hospital Cutback are regularly conducting reconstructive surgery (RCS) to the deformed limbs of the cured leprosy persons. The RCS surgery has also been included as a package in the empanelled private hospitals for Biju Swastya Kkalyan Yojana beneficiaries, the report furnished with the High Court stated.