Key Facts

  • Date of observance: Last Sunday of January (2026: 31 January).
  • Organising body: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
  • Programme on the day: Information, Education and Communication (IEC) outreach to promote awareness, early detection and stigma reduction.
  • Causative agent: Mycobacterium leprae.
  • Transmission: Via droplets from untreated cases; prolonged close contact.
  • Treatment: Multidrug Therapy (MDT) – free of cost under WHO programme.
  • National leprosy elimination status: Achieved in 2005 (prevalence < 1/10,000).
  • Current prevalence (2025): 0.57 per 10,000 population.

Background & Evolution

  • National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP): 1954‑55 – first organized effort for case detection and treatment.
  • National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP): Launched in 1983, replacing NLCP; pivotal in achieving elimination in 2005.
  • National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2023‑2027: Aligns with WHO’s Global Leprosy Strategy 2021‑2030 and the NTD Roadmap. Targets:
  • Interrupt transmission by 2027.
  • End leprosy transmission in India by 2030.
  • Strengthen surveillance, active case‑finding, and rehabilitation.

Significance for India & Governance

  • Public‑health impact: Leprosy remains a neglected tropical disease (NTD); early detection prevents disability and reduces transmission.
  • Social dimension: Stigma leads to social exclusion; IEC campaigns aim to change community attitudes.
  • Policy relevance: Demonstrates implementation of WHO‑led strategies, integration with broader NTD programmes, and the importance of sustained political commitment.

Legal / Policy Framework

  • Leprosy (Prevention and Control) Act, 1983 (now subsumed under NLEP guidelines).
  • National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) Guidelines, 2016‑2025 – provide operational protocols for case detection, treatment, and rehabilitation.
  • WHO‑WHO‑India collaboration: Free MDT provision, reporting mechanisms, and technical support.

Current Statistics (as of 2025)

  • Prevalence Rate (PR): 0.57/10,000 (national average).
  • New case detection rate: Approximately 5,000–6,000 new cases annually, with a declining trend.
  • Geographical hotspots: States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu report higher case loads.

National Strategic Plan 2023‑2027 – Key Interventions

  • Active case‑finding through community health workers and dermatology clinics.
  • Strengthening surveillance using digital reporting tools.
  • Capacity building for peripheral health staff on MDT administration and disability management.
  • Rehabilitation & social integration – provision of assistive devices, vocational training, and anti‑stigma campaigns.
  • Research & innovation – operational research on post‑exposure prophylaxis and vaccine development.

Related International Commitments

  • WHO Global Leprosy Strategy 2021‑2030 – aims to reduce disease burden by 90% and eliminate disability.
  • UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 – targets ending the epidemics of NTDs, including leprosy.

*For further reading, refer to “India’s Fight Against Leprosy” (PIB).