Evaluation of the modified leprosy elimination campaign in a high leprosy endemic district of Jharkhand.

An evaluation of the third Modified Leprosy Eradication Campaign (MLEC) was carried out in Potka block in the high endemic district of East Singhbhum, Jharkhand State, India, by our external evaluation team, from 29 October to 8 November 2001. The searchers in this block detected 389 suspects during the MLEC; of these, 181 (46%) were examined, and 69 (38%) of them were confirmed as cases by the Programme staff. The evaluators examined 189 (48.5%) of the total 389 suspects detected by the searchers, including 31 of the 69 cases confirmed by the Programme staff. Concordance of diagnosis of leprosy cases by the Programme staff and the evaluators was found to be high (90%). However, concordance of the type of leprosy was found to be variable (PB 38%, MB 72%, SSL 100%). Specificity and sensitivity of diagnosis by the Programme staff (as against those by the evaluators) were found to be 85.7% and 79.2% respectively. There was no case of re-registration. The evaluators examined 108 of the suspects detected by the Search Team, but not screened by the Programme staff, and diagnosed 47 cases (44%; PB 20, MB 9, SSL 18) from among them. The evaluators also diagnosed additional 30 new cases (PB 18, MB 5, SSL 7), during their visit. An assessment of knowledge about the disease and treatment among confirmed cases revealed that most of the patients did not know correctly about their disease. All the cases were referred by the searchers. About 45% of cases were aware of the duration for which they needed to take the treatment, 97% of cases showed the blister calendar packs and had taken the supervised dose. Availability of MDT to the patients and drug compliance were found to be adequate. Assessment of the impact of IEC activities on the awareness of leprosy among the community showed that about 50% of those interviewed were aware of the campaign. Most of them had information about the availability of leprosy drugs and knew that treatment was free. A majority of those aware of the disease said that they would refer suspects, if they come across any, to PHC centres for treatment.