Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) India accounts for more than half of new leprosy cases in the world and reported nearly 35,000 cases till June, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad informed the Lok Sabha Friday.

In a written reply, the minister said in its August 2010 report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said India accounts for 55 percent of all new leprosy cases in the world.

Last year, 133,717 cases were reported in the country - of the 244,796 cases reported worldwide, he said.

This year till June, as many as 34,846 cases were reported in the country.

The maximum cases were reported from Uttar Pradesh (6,662), Bihar (4,649), Maharashtra (4,284), Orissa (3,281), West Bengal (2,953), Chhattishargh (2,170), Andhra Pradesh (1,911), Gujarat (1,846), Madhya Pradesh (1,395), Tamil Nadu (1,092), Himachal Pradesh (1,084), Karnataka (1,030), Chandigarh (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (1).

Azad said that till Aug 29, the government has released Rs.777.44 lakh to the states for leprosy elimination.

The government in its national health policy 2002 had planned to eliminate leprosy (when it is less than one case per 10,000 population) by 2005, the minister said.

“The prevalence of leprosy has been decreasing in India over the years. From 42 cases per 100,000 population in 2001-02, it has come down to seven cases per 100,000 population in 2010-11.

“However, considering the very long incubation period of the disease, India will continue to have new leprosy cases for many years to come,” Azad added.

“The government continues to accord high priority to elimination of leprosy within the overall framework of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). We are advocating a district-specific approach for elimination of leprosy, which will be further strengthened during the 12th Plan period,” said Azad.