Why is it in the news?
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare informed the Rajya Sabha about the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.
The programme aims to eliminate leprosy transmission and stigma in India.
Category: Polity
Important Points:
● National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM).
● Its main strategy is early detection and treatment of leprosy cases.
● The programme aims to make India leprosy-free by interrupting transmission and eliminating stigma.
● Free services for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation are provided through public health facilities.
● WHO Global Leprosy Strategy aims for zero transmission, zero disability and zero discrimination by 2027.
● The programme targets reducing the prevalence rate to less than 1 per 10,000 population.
● It aims to reduce Grade-II disability cases to less than 1 per million population nationally.
● The programme provides technical and financial support to states and union territories.
● Digital surveillance and reporting are supported through platforms such as Nikusth 2.0.