Since it has been found that leprosy is curable and not nearly as contagious as once it was thought to be, RISDT health-care started treating people suffering from this disease as outpatients.

Even in early 80’s the condition of leprosy patients was very pathetic. Almost their limbs (hand and feet) were completely damaged with very bad shape and condition. Very few came forward to do dressing to such ulcerated feet. At such time RISDT started it’s activity to do the dressing for such badly suffering patients. Gradually the services were extended by RISDT to acquire SET (Survey, Education & Treatment) permission from Government of Andhra Pradesh, Ministry of Health to launch Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) to the poor leprosy patients. The Government has sanctioned half a million population to implement MDT programme.

RISDT is catering services to population spread over 136 villages and two towns across an area of 255 sq. kms. There are 71 Drug delivery points operated through out the project area to provide the services to the patients residing in the nook and corner of the operational area.

METHODOLOGY

Considering the operational activities of the project extended over a large number of scattered villages, the staff members travel extensively to motivate all the population. The emphasis is laid on the health education to the community. Equal emphasis is given to systematic screening of school going children and their examination periodically. Periodic examination of slum dwellers is also carried out.

Health Education Programme helped the project in increasing the public involvement. Health education in the project is given top priority and as result more than 30 % cases out of total detection have been reported voluntary.

Health education includes

    * Screening film shows on leprosy

    * Orientation programs to teachers, college students and voluntary workers.

    * Discussion by the concerned officers with different groups of people from different walks of lives.

    * Motivating the social clubs.

The medical side of physiotherapy department takes care of leprosy patients with recent paralyses, reactions, acute dactylics and neuritis with an aim to prevent deformities besides rendering health education to protect insensitive extremities.

Shoe making unit at RISDT, supplies specially designed footwear to the ULCERATED feet of the Leprosy patients. These shoes not only guard anaesthetic feet from ulceration but also help the ulcers to heal easily and fast.

Trained Lab technicians conduct bacteriological assessment of all registered cases and help the project not only to adjudge the quantum of infection but also in the following treatment. All fields of treatment are covered with the help of a dedicated team consisting of 17 Para medical workers, 3 supervisors and one Medical officer. RISDT has rendered best possible service in the field of leprosy control and has won the appreciation of Emmaus Swiss.

OBJECTIVES

Leprosy control programmes aims at the following.

    * Providing Health education on leprosy to all the population covered by RISDT.

    * Covering MDT treatment of all (100%) leprosy affected persons.

    * Treat maximum number of leprosy patients in the project area

    * To conduct effective survey and find out new cases in the early stage and treat them.

    * Reducing prevalence rate to below 1/1000 in the project area.

ACHIEVEMENTS

in the past 12 years, These are three broad achievements in the project area.

    * Gross prevalence rate has declined from 15.5 to 1 per 1000.

    * Active prevalence rate has come down

    * Voluntary reporting has become a normal practice in the community as a result of health awareness.

Health education campaigns became very effective and now people are quite aware of leprosy. They do not harbour any fear of the disease and have started approaching the centre for counselling and reporting. Voluntary reporting has been growing significantly since past five years. This is the main achievement of Health Education.

RISDT could achieve the MDT and Bacteriological coverage in the project area – 100% for the last four years. Since beginning of leprosy control programme RISDT could register 7851 cases and cured (relieved from Treatment) 7047 cases. Thus the Gross prevalence rate in the project area has dropped from 15.5 to 1.0 per 1000.

Every Para Medical Worker of the project examines nearly 1200 population against a target of 1000 per month, to detect the new cases in the early stage and treat them. As per the present figures and active prevalence rate is 1.0 per thousand.

FUTURE PLANS

To intensify Reconstructive Surgeries and treat larger number of patients within and outside project area. This way all the deformed leprosy affected people can use their hands and feet freely and effectively.

To provide better eye care for the leprosy lagophtholmos patients in time so that there would be no loss of sight to the patients. To create more confidence in the leprosy affected people and see that they live with dignity in the society, by providing vocational skills.