The potential benefit of primary health care and leprosy control

Abstract

In spite of considerable efforts and financial inputs over the last three decades no breakthrough has been made on the actual control of leprosy which, due to population increases, may even be on the rise. The discrepancy between 3 million leprosy patients registered (which does not necessarily imply their effective treatment) and 11-12 million cases estimated by WHO constitutes a tremendous challenge to those committed to the control of this ancient disease, in particular to the 24 member states of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) whose worldwide assistance benefits about 80 countries where leprosy constitutes a health problem. As vertically organized leprosy programmes should be considered outdated since they are neither economically nor technically feasible on a large-scale basis nor health-politically and psychologically acceptable, future anti-leprosy strategies must be geared to an alliance with other relevant health services and forces that may be instrumental to the control and ultimate eradication of leprosy. The PHC concept has emerged as a most promising strategy to assure health for all by the year 2000 and to establish health services as an essential tool in the overall development process. To be more effective a comprehensive, a 'total health' care-approach to leprosy control is needed. This represents, however, no new idea.