Mumbai, India – Maharashtra’s health authorities will run a door‑to‑door leprosy search across the state from Nov. 17 to Dec. 2. The goal? Spot hidden cases, start treatment right away, and move toward a 2027 target of zero leprosy spread.
The campaign will cover 8.66 million people in 1.73 million households. Sixty‑five thousand eight‑hundred‑thirty‑two teams, each made up of one ASHA worker and one male volunteer, will visit 20 houses in rural areas and 25‑30 in urban settings every day for two weeks. A total of 13,166 supervisors will oversee the effort. Anyone who shows signs of leprosy will receive an instant check‑up and – if positive – start on multi‑drug therapy at no cost.
The move comes as part of Maharashtra’s annual leprosy‑detection drive, following guidelines from the central government. The state has recently made leprosy a “notifiable disease,” meaning doctors and hospitals must report new cases to the district health office within two weeks. That step should speed up treatment and help break the chain of transmission.
Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has urged district officials and village leaders to push the campaign, while the health department’s secretary reviewed plans and issued instructions to district collectors. Citizens are asked to cooperate and are reminded that treatment facilities are free and available at all government centers.
In related news, the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2025 shows India’s TB incidence fell 21 % last year, from 237 cases per lakh people in 2015 to 187 in 2024—twice the global decline rate. India’s TB elimination drive, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in December 2024, has already screened 19 million people, identifying 24.5 lakh TB cases, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic ones. The aggressive strategy reflects evidence that many TB infections go unnoticed without active screening.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
