NLCP Full Form

What is the NLCP Full Form? The National Leprosy Control Program (NLCP) is a government-managed program that aims to prevent and treat leprosy. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare manages the initiative with help from the World Health Organization (WHO) and various international groups. The NLCP was first established in 1954 and implemented in all leprosy-endemic countries. The program’s goal is to reduce the prevalence of leprosy and its associated disabilities and improve the quality of life of people affected by the disease. Read more about NLCP below.

Aim

• The National Law on Expanded Access to Medicines and Treatment in India (NLEP) and global drug policy are still weakly centralised. Problems with coordination between the various components of NLEP are widely recognised, as is their negative impact on efficacy. To solve this problem, further decentralisation of NLEP to States & Districts.

• Healthcare spending will continue to grow at its current trajectory. The federal investment in health care, particularly those programs that are implemented through the CMS, has been reduced in recent years. Mental health services have become increasingly important in meeting this need with a renewed emphasis on Disability Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR). Monitoring and periodic evaluation are used.

Objective

• The goal will be achieved when the prevalence of leprosy, which is defined as an infection that has not improved despite adequate therapy, is less than one case per 10,000 people in all districts of India.

• We are strengthening disability prevention and medical rehabilitation for those suffering from leprosy. The stigma associated with leprosy has decreased.

Strategies

• General Health Care Services has been certified to provide integrated leprosy services. Early diagnosis and prompt MDT treatment of new Leprosy cases have been achieved through regular and special efforts.

• We conducted a household contact survey for early detection of cases—involvement of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in detecting and completing Leprosy treatment on time. Rehabilitation and medical care are being improved for persons with disabilities.

To lower social prejudice and discrimination, local and mass media are used. Dr John Rath stated in the mid-1970s: “The single most frequent cause of ignorance is failing to look for symptoms and indicators in oneself, forming a mental pattern based on one’s own experience that continues to have an impact on one’s life.” This is because he felt that self-care was essential. In 2000-2001, Tripura achieved its goal of leprosy eradication when the caseload was reduced to one per 10000 people. 

Milestones

• In the mid-1990s, multidrug therapy (MDT) was introduced in phases.

• At the national level, leprosy was completely eradicated in 2005.

New Initiatives

• In high endemic areas, we implemented a 14-day Outbreak Control Cases Campaign (14 days) and a 15-day Active Case Detections Campaign (15 days).

• In under-endemic regions, the Focused Leprosy Campaign (FLC) is a campaign aimed at curing leprosy.

• Leprosy suspect surveillance using the ASHA method (ABSULS)

• Disease Study: Grade II Disability Epidemiological Investigation

Institutions

The following are the top five Leprosy Institutes in India: CLTRI, Chengalpattu, RLTRI, Aska, Raipur, and Gouripur are all involved in research (basic and applied) and training of different kinds of personnel involved with Leprosy eradication. The Government Medical College, Jodhpur, is the first government medical school in Rajasthan. There are six other such Medical and Dental colleges in India. The Medical Institute of Baroda, Patiala, became known throughout the country for its speciality training profile in Minor & Major Reconstructive Surgeries. The State NLEP Units may utilise these training centres to help monitor and provide advisory services for improved programme planning and implementation. The Tamil Nadu Leprosy Eradication and Prevention Centre (CLTRI) is a medical research institute located in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. The Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute (CLT & RI), Chengalpattu, was founded by the Indian government in 1955 after taking over Lady Wellington Leprosy Sanatorium, founded in 1924. In 1974, the Government of India established CLT & RI as a sub-office of the Directorate General Health Services. It offers separate wings of Epidemiology and statistics, Clinical, Medicine, Microbiology, and Biochemistry laboratories with animal care amenities; surgery and physiotherapy are also available. This Institute provides both in-patient and out-patient services. The hospital has 124 beds available.

Conclusion

The objective and aim were to reduce the leprosy burden still further, for high-quality leprosy services to promote disability prevention and medical rehabilitation, and for advocates to work toward reducing stigma and discrimination. By the end of March 2000 (when the prevalence rate was less than 1 per 10000 people), the State’s objective was to eliminate leprosy. The current prevalence rate in the State is 0.24%. Since its inception, the NLCP has contributed to a significant reduction in the global prevalence of leprosy.