HindustanTimes.com

Saturday, October 18, 2003

Strategy fixed in Bangladesh to eradicate leprosy by 2005
Press Trust of India
Dhaka, October 18

Bangladesh has fixed a strategy for complete eradication of leprosy by 2005
expediting the current anti-leprosy campaign that visibly attained a
significant success.

A joint meeting of the Government, WHO and partners forum for elimination of
leprosy in Dhaka on Saturday decided to launch a plan to ensure higher
identification and cure rate through motivation, timely procurement and
supply of drugs and offering better health care services.

"Virtually Bangladesh has achieved the goal of elimination of leprosy at
national level two years ahead of WHO target," a senior consultant of
National Programme manager, Leprosy Dr AN Maksuda told the meeting.
Dr Maksuda said the visible/disability rate of leprosy declined from 21.40
per cent in 1993 to 8.1 per cent in June 2003.

At the end of December 1998, the registered prevalence of leprosy in the
country for the first time was below one case against per 10 thousand
population, she added.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain
attended the meeting as the chief guest while Secretary of the ministry AFM
Sarwar Kamal presided over the function.

A paper presented in the session stated that leprosy is not evenly
distributed in Bangladesh in conformity with the world pattern. The leprosy
endemically varies widely within the country, only 12 areas contributing
over 63 per cent of total cases.

© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2003.
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