Leprosy 30 Jan Leprosy "Elimination does not mean eradication" It was in the year 2005, after the prevalence rate of leprosy fell to less than 1/10,000 people and it was deemed that the disease ceased to be a public health problem, that India got the 'elimination' tag for leprosy. But the 'eliminated' leprosy seems to be making a comeback. The reason is that ever since, it fell off the priority list, there has been lackadaisical efforts to wipe out leprosy. As the world gears up to observe World Leprosy Day, activists fear that the last mile from 'elimination to eradication' could be long and unachievable. Leprosy still exists. One-third of the new detected cases of leprosy are among migrants. More than 200,000 new cases are recorded every year worldwide. About two to three million people are living with irreversible disabilities including blindness because of leprosy. People whose immune system gets weakened from any chronic disease such as diabetes, HIV, AIDS or Heart disease may be more likely to develop leprosy. It is owing to lack of awareness that detection of leprosy in the early stages is difficult. Let's all take a solemn pledge to continuously put in our best of efforts to eradicate leprosy.