Browsing by Author "Ritu, KM"

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    The Unique Leprosy Helpline in India
    (Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh (Indian Leprosy Association), 2025-03) Agarwal, A; Meena, SN; Ritu, KM; Bhargava, S; Jain, A; Kumar, P.
    The NLR India has established a helpline named Vikalp with objectives of improving the adherence to MDT, promoting practice of self-care among new patients with disabilities, and promoting SDR-PEP among the household contacts of the patients. This helpline is operating since May 2021 from Jaipur (Rajasthan) is providing a follow-up mechanism for leprosy patients on treatment complementing the government delivery system. The counsellor calls the patient every two weeks, sometimes the patient also calls. Every month, the helpline submits a report to the district leprosy officer (DLO) who ensures further need-based support to the patient. Through its two years of operation serving six districts of Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand; the helpline has been able to counsel 218 patients on treatment, 81% of defaulters re-start multi-drug therapy (MDT), 53% of ulcers healed and some household contacts of the patients administered single-dose rifampicin (SDR) post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The initiative has been selected as a best practice by the Central Leprosy Division, Government of India. This strategy has potential for scale-up in India and similar settings elsewhere.