Bangladesh

History of leprosy in Bangladesh

Many believed leprosy may have originated in India, of which Bangladesh used to be a part before modern times, as it was mentioned in the ancient text of the Sushrata Samhita, which was written in 600 BC. However, research findings published in 2005 by the Institut Pasteur in Paris, revealed that leprosy is more likely to have originated in East Africa.

Leprosy control services were integrated into the general health services in 1993 and the National Leprosy Elimination Programme was revamped, so the country could intensify its leprosy control activities. The government also established a partnership with Bangladesh Scouts, general medical practitioners and religious leaders, who could help disseminate information and help refer suspected cases for example. There are also many non-governmental organisations working to support the government with its leprosy and tuberculosis control activities.

Multi-drug therapy (MDT) for the treatment of leprosy was introduced in 1985 for 120 highly endemic sub-districts. By 1994 all patients with leprosy were being treated by MDT. By 1996 the government could provide MDT throughout Bangladesh via its 600 MDT centres. In 1999 the number of MDT centres had increased to 625.

Bangladesh reached a prevalence rate, nationally, of less than one case per 10,000 population for the first time in 1998.

By the end of 2002 the number of high endemic areas had decreased to ten (eight districts and Dhaka and Chittagong) and grade two disability among new cases was 7.2%. 

During the years 2006-2007, the NLEP followed a plan which aimed to intensify its management capacity, increase community awareness of leprosy and to prevent further displacement of persons with deformities as a result of leprosy, in addition to continuing routine case-finding and case-holding activities.

A leprosy expert pool was introduced in 2007. This strengthened diagnoses of leprosy and 10% more cases were detected in that year. The proportion of persons with disabilities at the moment of diagnosis was 18%. The completion rate for multibacillary patients was 95% and for paucibacillary patients 97%.

In 2008, 5,249 new cases of leprosy were detected in Bangladesh, the fifth highest numbers of cases in the world for that year recorded by the World Health Organization in its Weekly Epidemiological Record. 

Of interest: Presentation made at Inter-Country Meeting of National Leprosy Programme Managers of South-East Asia Countries, Bangkok, Thailand, 15th – 17th May 2006