Table of Contents S. No. Topics Page No. - nlep.nic.in

1 1 NLEP : sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) Table of Contents S. No. Topics Page No. 1. Introduction : sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) from 2nd Oct, 2018 to 2nd Oct, 2019 2 2. Month wise Activity calendar for SLEC 6 3. Month wise monitoring checklist for SLEC 14 Annexure 4. Annexure I : Letter to states from AS& MD reg. LCDC action plan 36 5. Annexure II : Letter to states from Joint Secretary (VS) reg. Month wise calendar 38 6. Annexure III : Letter to states from DDG- leprosy reg. Month wise monitoring checklist 39 7. Annexure IV : Letter from Secretary Health reg. support for SLEC from Chief Secretary state 40 8. Annexure V : List of 251 LCDC Districts 41 2 NLEP : sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign It is with great pleasure being communicated that Government of India is working dedicatedly to stop transmission of leprosy disease in the community and reduce the disabilities by detecting cases in early stage.

2 The commitment of Government of India, to achieve leprosy Free India may be assessed by quantum of innovations introduced under National leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) from 2016 to 2017, which are as under: Three pronged strategy for early case detection i. leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) specific for high endemic districts ii. Focussed leprosy Campaign (FLC) in hot spots of non LCDC districts and iii. Special plan for case detection in hard to reach areas. Other major innovations introduced were sparsh leprosy awareness Campaign Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) specific to LCDC districts Grade II disability case investigation launch of Nikushth online reporting system with Patient tracking mechanism ASHA based Surveillance for leprosy Suspects (ABSULS) for enhanced early case reporting in routine. These innovations have given the needed impetus to programme and as an effect of the same the rising trend of Grade II disability is showing decline, the Grade II disability per million which was million population as on March, 2016 has been decreased to million population as on March, 2018.

3 Further, in order to pay homage to Father of Nation, Sh. Mahatma Gandhi ji, on his 150th Birth Anniversary and inspired by the success achieved during last two years a holistic and comprehensive campaign sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) has been introduced by Central leprosy Division with an objective to bring about a reduction in annual new cases of Grade II Disability to less than 1 case per million population, at National level (consistent with the target given by WHO in Global leprosy Strategy (GLS), 2016 2020) and zero backlog of eligible patients requiring Re-constructive Surgeries. Theme wise major activities under the Campaign till October 2nd, 2019, (in addition to the routine activities of the programme) are as under: A. Active Case Detection: I. Enhanced implementation of strategy for early case detection , i. leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC): LCDC to be conducted twice in 251 districts identified on the basis of Grade II disability (G2D) rate >3% and absolute no.

4 Of cases of G2D >2, , 3 NLEP : sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) o 1stLCDC with a window period starting from September 2018 and ending on 2nd October, 2018 or States may begin on 2nd October, 2018. o 2ndLCDC with a window period starting from January 2019 and ending on 28th February, 2019. o If required the 3rdLCDC may be conducted in June, 2019. Major activities to be implemented under LCDC are as under: Scheduled meetings of various committees formed at each level , National, State, District, Block to plan & implement the LCDC. Focused training of all health functionaries from District to Village level. House to house visits by team encompassing one Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and male volunteer Field Level Worker (FLW), as per micro-plans prepared for local areas. Intensive IEC activities, through miking & display of banners/posters during and before the LCDC.

5 Supervision of house to house search activities through identified field supervisors. Scheduled meetings with community leaders/representatives to resolve any issue came across during the campaign. Systematic collection and compilation of reports from Field teams and supervisors through formats designed for the purpose. Prompt analyses and feedback on data received from teams, supervisors, monitors, medical officers which will help to plan corrective actions. The above mentioned activities are supposed to be conducted as per the timeline given in the operational guidelines for LCDC (available on NLEP website), screening of all suspects identified and registration of confirmed cases must be completed within 15 days of last day of house to house case search. ii. Focussed leprosy Campaign (FLC): FLCs will be implemented in Villages/ Urban Areas, of non-LCDC districts in routine , around 2000 villages/ urban areas.

6 Reporting of even single grade II disabled case indicate that cases are being detected very late and there are several hidden cases in the community. Hence, whole village/ urban area where even a single grade II disabled case is detected must be considered as hot spot and active case search , House to house visit by ASHAs/ health system workers, to examine each and every resident of the household must be carried out in these hot spots within 15 days of detection of Grade II disabled case. The suggestions for case search in different areas are as under: In villages, case search needs to be done in each house of the whole village In urban areas 300 households must be covered from all sides. B. Enhanced early case reporting: II. Special Mass awareness Activities: It is envisaged to conduct several activities for mass awareness regarding leprosy from 30th January to 2nd October, 2019.

7 4 NLEP : sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) i. sparsh leprosy awareness Campaign, 2019: On 30th January, 2019 sparsh leprosy awareness Campaign will be conducted wherein major activities to be conducted in Gram Sabha meetings are 1) Dissemination of message by District Magistrate, 2) Speech by Gram Sabhapramukh, 3) Role play by children with major theme on Mahatma Gandhi ji s contribution to anti- leprosy work , along with felicitation of Person affected by leprosy (if available in the village*) by child enacting as Mahatma Gandhi ji in role play and 4) Question Answer session on leprosy . ii. National/ Regional/ State/ Dist. level IEC activities: National and state level competitions of various activities like essay writing, painting, poster making and photography will be announced on the same day , 30th January, 2019 for children to commemorate Gandhiji and his belief.

8 These competitions will be conducted for 4 months (Feb. May 2019) at various levels in the states and assessment will be done from June-July, 2019. The award or prize distribution will be held on 2nd Oct. 2019 in a grand function to be held at National level. iii. Publication of NLEP Newsletter, special issue: Division will also publish the special issue (January March, 2019) of NLEP Newsletter being published by the division quarterly, with a theme of Gandhiji s contribution to anti- leprosy work and his philosophy for swadesh products , in order to promote the hand made products being prepared by Persons affected by leprosy / leprosy Colonies inhabitants. iv. Formulation and launch of video spots: A video compiling the activities conducted for sparsh leprosy awareness Campaign, 2019, several competitions conducted at various levels, NLEP newsletter and Mahatma Gandhiji s contribution to anti leprosy work will be prepared.

9 Same may be launched on 2nd October, 2019 on the commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi ji. C. Prevention/ Stop transmission III. Nationwide launch of administration of Post Exposure Prophylaxis as Single dose of Rifampicin (SDR) to 20 contacts of new cases detected. It is estimated that SDR to be administered to approx. 3 million persons. It is proposed that this initiative will be launched on October 2nd, 2018. D. Gap analysis & corrective interventions: IV. Grade II disability case investigation of all G2D cases (approximately 30000 cases) must be done within 15 days of confirmation of same. Follow up health check up to be done for all patients of G2D cases. E. Enhanced/ ensured implementation of Disability Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) activities: Disability Prevention Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) activities under NLEP cover reaction management, ulcer care, self-care kits distribution, 5 NLEP : sparsh leprosy Elimination Campaign (SLEC) provision of MCR footwear, Aids & Appliances, referral services for management of cases and reconstructive surgery at District Hospitals and Medical Colleges/Central leprosy / NGO Institutions.

10 All these routine activities will be strengthened and ensured through various health care infrastructures. Major focus will be given to the activities as given below: V. Self-care kits distribution: The identification of Persons Affected by leprosy (PAL) having grade I & II disability (over Hands and Feet) must be done till 31st Dec 2018 by reviewing last 5 years existing data in form of Patient s cards and distribution of same on routine basis by States to be ensured through existing infrastructure and simultaneously integration of same under Ayushman Bharat scheme, wellness centres. VI. MCR footwear distribution: The identification of Persons Affected by leprosy (PAL) have grade I & II disability in feet must be done till 31st Dec 2018 by reviewing last 5 years existing data in form of Patient s cards and distribution of same on routine basis by States to be ensured as per the programme recommendation , 2 MCR footwear per persons annually through existing infrastructure integration of same under Ayushman Bharat scheme, wellness centres.