The current state of leprosy control activities in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka the overall prevalence of leprosy was 0.14 per 1000 population and the incidence 0.07 per 1000 population at the end of 1987. Although the endemicity is low in the island, disease transmission has not yet been achieved as the annual detection of new cases and the child rate has been gradually rising. The major activities of the leprosy control programme are case-finding, treatment and defaulter retrieval, health education, rehabilitation and training. The field programme is implemented through 15 specially trained paramedical workers. In addition there are 5 medical officers attached to the Anti-leprosy Campaign. The Director of the Anti-leprosy Campaign is in overall charge of the National Leprosy Programme and is also project manager for the Sri Lanka Emmaus Leprosy Control Project.