| Leprosy is a chronic
infectious disease. It largely affects the skin, eyes, the peripheral
nerves and the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract other than some other
structures of the human body. The Government of India started the National Leprosy Eradication Programme in
1955. But, it was only in 1970s that a definite cause was identified in the
form of Multi Drug Therapy (MDT).
On the basis of the
recommendations of a committee, the National Leprosy Eradication Programme
was re-launched in 1983 with the objective to arrest the disease activity
in all the known cases of leprosy. The entire country came under its ambit
only by 1996. The government has also launched five Modified Leprosy
Eradication Programmes or MLEPs beginning 1997-1998. These MLEPs helped in
bringing out 9.9 lakh new leprosy cases for treatment and cure in a short
period of time and created increased awareness about the disease among the
masses.
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