Modi calls for collective efforts to eliminate leprosy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for collective efforts to eliminate the treatable disease of leprosy from the country.In a message on the eve of anti-leprosy day, Mr. Modi said, the country needs to work together for socio-economic upliftment of the cured persons.

He stressed the need to ensure that these citizens lead a life with dignity as Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of. Mr. Modi said, the effort to eliminate leprosy under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme is a tribute to Mahatma



Gandhi’s vision.He recalled that this programme was launched way back in 1955 and although the case detection rate has marginally come down, visible deformity at the time of diagnosis has increased.

Prime Minister mentioned that a three-pronged strategy for early detection of leprosy cases was introduced last year under the National Health Mission. A special Leprosy Case Detection Campaign was also carried out and as a result, more than 32,000 cases were confirmed and put on treatment.