The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) has been in operation since 1955, as a centrally aided programme to achieve control of
leprosy through early detection of cases and DDS dapsone monotheraphy on an ambulatory basis. The NLEP moved ahead initially at a slow pace, presumably for want of clear-cut polices or operational objectives for nearly two decades. In 1980 the government of India declared its resolve to eradicate leprosy by the year 2000 and constituted a working group to advice accordingly. The working group submitted report in 1982 and recommended a revised strategy based on multi-drug chemotherapy aimed at leprosy eradication through reduction in the quantum of infection in the population, reduction in the sources of infection by breaking the chain of transmission.
Key words: Leprosy, NLEP, Eradication Programme.
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