Nabarangpur,Aug 6 [UDN}: In line with the Government of Odisha’s vision of building a “Leprosy-Free Odisha,” the Department of Health and Family Welfare, under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), has launched a 15-day Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) in Nabarangpur district. The campaign will be conducted from August 15 to August 31, 2026, with the objective of identifying suspected leprosy patients through intensive door-to-door screening and ensuring their immediate treatment.
The campaign will cover all eight blocks of Nabarangpur district. Preparations for the initiative were reviewed during a meeting held on August 1, 2026, at the Ashok Mehta Conference Hall, under the chairmanship of District Collector Dr. Maheshwar Swain.
According to official data presented during the meeting, 6,133 leprosy cases have been detected in the district so far. Out of these, 5,936 patients have successfully recovered, while 197 patients are currently undergoing treatment this year.
As part of the campaign, health workers will visit 2,11,643 households and screen approximately 9,45,397 residents across the district. Daily progress reports will be submitted to the district headquarters to closely monitor the implementation of the campaign.
A large healthcare workforce has been mobilized to ensure the campaign’s success. The deployment includes 1,480 ASHA workers, 300 Multi-Purpose Health Workers (MPHWs), 125 Community Health Officers (CHOs), 26 Health Supervisors, 70 MBBS doctors, and 46 AYUSH doctors. All personnel have received specialized training in the identification, diagnosis, and management of leprosy before the commencement of the campaign.
During house-to-house visits, ASHA workers will examine family members for symptoms commonly associated with leprosy, including numb white or copper-colored skin patches, abnormal skin changes, and tingling or loss of sensation in the hands and feet. Individuals suspected of having the disease will be referred to MBBS doctors for clinical examination. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, patients will receive Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) free of cost under the government programme. Health officials stated that with regular treatment, leprosy can be completely cured within six to twelve months.
In addition, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams will conduct screening of children in all schools and Anganwadi centres across the district. The aim is to detect leprosy among children at an early stage and provide timely treatment, thereby preventing disability and further transmission.
While the Government of India has set a target to eliminate leprosy from the country by 2027, the Nabarangpur district administration has adopted a special objective of reducing the number of child leprosy cases to zero, contributing to the broader mission of achieving a Leprosy-Free Odisha.
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