The Unique Leprosy Helpline in India

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAgarwal, Aen_US
dc.contributor.authorMeena, SNen_US
dc.contributor.authorRitu, KMen_US
dc.contributor.authorBhargava, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorJain, Aen_US
dc.contributor.authorKumar, P.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-13T08:54:29Z
dc.date.available2025-08-13T08:54:29Z
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.description.abstractThe 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.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsMD, Chief Executive Officer, NLR India, C4/139, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsMSW, Former Counselor, Call Center, Rajasthan, NLR India, C4/139, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsB.Pharma, MBA, Community Based Rehabilitation Coordinator, Rajasthan, NLR India, C4/139, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsBDS, MPH, State Programme Lead, Rajasthan, NLR India, C4/139, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsB. Com (Hons.), Advanced Diploma in Computers, Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning, NLR India, C4/139, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsMBBS, DTMH, MSc, Head, Programmes, NLR India, C4/139, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationAgarwal A, Meena SN, Ritu KM, Bhargava S, Jain A, Kumar P.. The Unique Leprosy Helpline in India. Indian Journal of Leprosy . 2025 Mar; 97(1): 53-55en_US
dc.identifier.issn0254-9395
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/250267
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherHind Kusht Nivaran Sangh (Indian Leprosy Association)en_US
dc.relation.issuenumber1en_US
dc.relation.volume97en_US
dc.source.urihttps://www.ijl.org.in/article-detail/97/527en_US
dc.subjectHelplineen_US
dc.subjectLeprosyen_US
dc.subjectIndiaen_US
dc.subjectDrug Adherenceen_US
dc.subjectSelf-care and PEP.en_US
dc.titleThe Unique Leprosy Helpline in Indiaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
ijl2025v97n1p53.pdf
Size:
241.2 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Indian Journal of Leprosy