Leprosy

Clofazimine, a key drug for treatment of leprosy, has been in short supply in the Indian market.

Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy) is a chronic, progressive infection caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
It can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose (nasal mucosa). With early diagnosis and treatment, the disease can be cured.
Symptoms often take between three and five years to manifest.
Hansen’s disease is treated with a combination of antibiotics. Typically, 2 or 3 antibiotics are used at the same time. The combination of medications known as “Multi-Drug Therapy” can cure leprosy (MDT).
Leprosy has been recorded as one of the oldest illness. Leprosy has been documented in writing as early as 600 B.C.
Thousands of years ago, it was fully understood by the first civilisations in China, Egypt, and India. The existence of leprosy infections in 100,000-year-old remains is supported by genetic data.
The main method of transmission is inhaling airborne droplets from the infected people. The disease can be contracted at any age

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leprosy is endemic in several States and Union Territories of India, with the annual case detection rate of 4.56 per 10,000 population.
The prevalence rate of leprosy is 0.4 per 10,000 population in the country. Of the new cases detected during 2020-2021, 58.1% were multibacillary, 39% were women, 5.8% were children less than 14 years of age, and 2.41% had visible deformities.
The rate of visible deformities was 1.1 per million population

National Leprosy Control Programme in 1955
The World Bank supported National Leprosy Elimination Project started from 1993-94.
The National Health Policy 2002, Government of India had set the goal of elimination of leprosy i.e. to reduce the no. of cases to < 1/10,000 population by the year 2005.
The National Leprosy Eradication Programme – achieved the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem, defined as less than 1 case per 10,000 Population, at the National Level in 2005.
SPARSH Leprosy Awareness Campaign – to promote awareness and address the issues of stigma and discrimination.
World Health Organisation- Global Leprosy strategy document for 2016–2020 – promoting inter-sectoral collaboration within countries.

Reference

Today Current Affairs Upsc Exam Syllabus & Previous Yearpaper.