Leprosy Control

Abstract

Leprosy control is about organisation of health services for reducing the disease burden. It includes activities related to creating community awareness about leprosy, early diagnosis and treatment of all new cases, referral services for complications and disabilities due to leprosy, prevention of disabilities and networking with other services and programmes such as community-based rehabilitation (CBR). Global strategy for reducing the leprosy burden and its accompanying operational guidelines, prepared by World Health Organisation (WHO) are two key documents guiding organisation of leprosy control in integrated health services. The Global Strategy recommends active involvement of persons affected with leprosy in all aspects of leprosy control. Leprosy control programmes also need to prepare national guidelines on other issues such as registration of patient data, contact examination and monitoring of services including indicators for assessing the quality of leprosy control.