The state of Jharkhand came into existence on 15^th Nov. 2000 after bifurcation of the state of Bihar. It comprises of total 18 districts with its State capital at District Ranchi. There are NGOs getting grant in aid from GOI , there are local NGOs supported by various International NGOs, there are international NGOs like Damien Foundation India Trust (DFIT), The Leprosy Mission(TLM), Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR), German Leprosy Relief Association(GLRA), Aide aux Lepreux Emmaus Suisse (ALES) and Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO) who are the member of ILEP and are working in the state of Jharkhand in one or the other form to support National Leprosy Eradication Programme.

　

Contribution made by various NGOs and ILEP agencies in the state of Jharkhand are as under:

　

6 DTSTs are provided by DFIT to cover 6 districts, 2 Support teams are provided by The Leprosy Mission to cover 3 districts and 9 support teams are provided by NLR to cover 9 districts. These support teams were placed in a phased manner and now all the 18 districts of Jharkhand are supported by technical support teams. With the implementation of IInd phase of World Bank project promoting integration of leprosy services into General Health Care services, revised guidelines for functioning of support teams were prepared by Government of India and these teams are functioning on the guidelines provided by GOI to support Integration by visiting various PHCs, APHCs, Sub Centers, Hospitals, Dispensaries and transferring skills in diagnosis of leprosy, treatment, management of complications, Prevention of Disability, maintaining of records, preparation of reports, drug supply management and IEC. Major impact of these teams are that 89% PHCs are providing leprosy services daily, 60% MOs are capable of diagnosing and treating leprosy, 84% PHCs have adequate stocks of MDT. 92% of the PHCs are maintaining records and sending report on monthly basis. 50% of the APHCs are involved in leprosy programme. Almost 75% of sub centers are providing follow up treatment of leprosy, suspecting a case of leprosy, maintaining simple records, having adequate stocks of drugs and referring complications to the PHCs.

　

The Leprosy Mission is supporting a Leprosy Control Unit directly covering a population of 232021 in Saldoha of District Dumka. 5 more Leprosy Control Units for Survey Education and Treatment are supported by GLRA not directly but through local NGOs covering a population of approx 3 millions.

　

One hospital with direct support from The Leprosy Mission at Saldoha of district Dumka and 3 more hospitals through local NGO s with support from GLRA are functioning in the districts of East Singhbhum and Dhanbad. These hospitals are looking after outdoor patients and providing indoor facilities to the leprosy patients. Besides this these hospitals are involved in Prevention and management of Disabilities, providing training for production of footwear, supplying protective footwears to the needy patients and performing Reconstructive surgeries on patients with deformities.

　

To streamline supply of MDT from the state to district level and now from district to PHC level, regional depots in the state were created by DFIT through which the supply of MDT in the state of Bihar and Jharkhand is maintained. Prednipacks supplied by Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation were provided to all the District Leprosy Officers for treating reactions and neuritis cases.

　

Hoardings were erected by DFIT at various places, banners were supplied by NLR for all the districts of Jharkhand during the IIIrd round of Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign. Flash cards were distributed by DFIT in all the districts of Jharkhand to facilitate case detection and creating awareness. Some innovative methods like drum-beating, Jharkhand dance, magic shows, street theatres, puppet shows etc. were organized through support teams of NLR to create awareness among the masses. With the introduction of Panchayati Raj system, their chief functionaries were involved in discussion to involve them in leprosy eradication programme. To generate awareness among school children and using their potential for case detection, NLR through its support teams and NLEP staff organized school quiz competitions, rallies, exhibitions etc. in schools.

　

In district Ranchi and Gumla approximately 1000 children are supported directly by AIFO for their education and health. GLRA is also supporting socio-economic rehabilitation in 4 centers of local NGOs at Dhanbad and East Singhbhum by which 1104 persons have been benefited.

　

Besides support teams, ILEP agencies in collaboration with Government of India have prepared learning material on leprosy for all category of health staff which was distributed throughout the country including the state of Jharkhand. To promote integration simple patient case cards, patient identity cards and running registers were supplied to all PHCs.

　

III round of Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign (MLEC) was supported by ILEP in the form of involvement in training, supervision and case confirmation. Later evaluation of MLEC III was also done by ILEP support teams

　

Advocacy meetings are being organized in various districts. Cleaning of registers is continuing and Leprosy Elimination Monitoring exercises will also be supported by ILEP agencies