By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 20, 2026 10:30 am
The workshop reviewed the epidemiological situation and programme performance in Madhya Pradesh, while identifying implementation gaps and sharing field-level experiences
The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) Review-cum-Capacity Building Workshop began in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, bringing together health officials, district programme teams and technical partners to strengthen leprosy control efforts and accelerate progress towards Interruption of Transmission (IoT).
Organised by the Central Leprosy Division (CLD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the two-day workshop brought together more than 70 participants, including officials from the Directorate General of Health Services, Central Leprosy Division, State Leprosy Programme, Regional Leprosy Training and Research Institute (RLTRI) Raipur, Aska Institute, WHO and other technical partners.
The workshop reviewed the epidemiological situation and programme performance in Madhya Pradesh, while identifying implementation gaps and sharing field-level experiences. Discussions focused on strengthening early case detection, contact tracing, timely treatment, disability prevention and intensified surveillance.
Dr. Sunil V. Gitte, Deputy Director General (Leprosy), emphasised the importance of using programme data to identify priority districts and areas requiring intensified surveillance. The discussions also focused on strategies to bring the leprosy prevalence rate below 1 per 10,000 population as part of the country's efforts towards interrupting transmission.
Technical sessions addressed improving the quality and outcomes of the Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC)and strengthening Retrospective and Reverse Contact Tracing to identify potentially missed or undiagnosed cases and better understand transmission patterns.
Dr. Rashmi Shukla, National Programme Officer, WHO, led the session on improving LCDC implementation, while Dr. Sandeep Jogdand of RLTRI Raipur provided technical guidance on retrospective and reverse contact tracing.
District Leprosy Officers from across Madhya Pradesh also shared field experiences, with representatives from Alirajpur, Anuppur, Barwani, Burhanpur and Dhar highlighting programme achievements, operational challenges and district-level strategies to improve detection, treatment and disability prevention.
The workshop also provided a platform for peer learning and community engagement, with the Vice-President of APAL sharing practical insights on early case detection and the importance of incorporating the perspectives of people affected by leprosy into programme implementation.
The workshop will continue on 20 August 2026, with further technical and capacity-building sessions aimed at consolidating district strategies and accelerating focused interventions towards India's goal of interrupting leprosy transmission.