Leprosy Elimination Action Programme (LEAP)

India still accounts for 60% of the global burden of leprosy and the state of Maharashtra stands at the 3rd position out of 35 states on maximum new case detection during 2016-17. The leprosy services do not equitably reach those people affected by leprosy due to deep-rooted stigma adding to their oppressed position. Currently, no proper referral mechanism exists within the public health system that serves as a referral unit for providing quality care and services to prevent disabilities and deformities due to leprosy and manage complications such as reactions and neuritis. These shortcomings have resulted in non-availability of essential leprosy services such as early identification, referral, treatment, and quality care. Even the available leprosy services are not accessed timely, mainly by vulnerable rural and tribal population in order to improve their health conditions and therefore reduce the disability and stigma. Moreover, there is an insufficient level of leprosy awareness in the community which results in late reporting of new leprosy cases in the districts. Insufficient training of health workers and improper motivation make this problem more complex, especially in the rural/tribal districts of Maharashtra.

The project aims to bring sustainable quality services to leprosy-affected persons, to continue to actively detect new leprosy cases, to effectively transfer of skill and knowledge to the public health personnel and to involve more and more stakeholders. The project will be implemented in Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts that are predominantly rural and endemic for leprosy in Maharashtra. The strategy involves the following:

Conduct outreach camps at the PHC level aimed to reach the services to all persons affected by leprosy with disability and deformities to provide quality treatment care.

Conduct task-oriented training at different levels of health functionaries in public health to increase the preparedness and capacity to ensure quality leprosy services delivery.

Both these interventions ensure the rights of persons affected by leprosy for prompt and adequate treatment and care.

The primary aim of interventions is to focus on delivering quality services to people affected by leprosy through the public health system. This project intends to achieve the following impact that is sustainable:

-Utilize the clinical acumen and experiences of trained leprosy personnel needed for promoting integration, and sustaining leprosy control activities essential to make a difference in the lives of people affected by leprosy.

-Guarantee the provision of quality accessible leprosy services by strengthening the capacity of the public health personnel.

-Involve and engage all stakeholders as partners like the non-government sector, public health institutions, civil societies, and local governments for active detection of new leprosy cases