Evaluation of Effectiveness in implementing Leprosy Elimination Campaigns in ...

Title:
Evaluation of Effectiveness in implementing Leprosy Elimination Campaigns in High Leprosy-Epidemic Areas in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces

Author:
Li W, Shen J, Jiang C, et al

Address:
National Center for STD and Leprosy Control, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 12 Jiangwangmiao Road, Nanjing 210042, P. R. China

Source:
Chin J Dermatol, 2000, 33 (suppl): 46-49

Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (LEC) inter-grated with routine case-finding of leprosy in the high leprosy-epidemic areas in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces. Methods: Extensive health education of leprosy in the community, training of paramedical workers on leprosy, clue survey and contact survey were carried out to make diagnosis and provide treatment. Results: A total of 122 new leprosy cases were detected in 6 high leprosy-epidemic counties through LEC in 1999 with a detection rate of 3.7/100 000, but in contrast, the annual number of newly detected leprosy cases was 67 cases with an average detection rate of 2/100 000 during the period of 3 years before LEC. Among the newly detected leprosy cases, about 47% were leprosy household contacts. Conclusion: LEC combined with routine activities of case finding can improve the detection of the back-log cases in the communities. In the high epidemic areas, especially in the remote and difficult-to-access areas, majority of leprosy cases can be detected through combining active and passive case-finding methods, providing extensive health education, improving leprosy services in skin clinic, leprosy contact and clue surveys.

Key words: Leprosy Communicable disease control Leprosy elimination campaigns

Language: Chinese