The 44th World Health Assembly adopted the resolution WHA44.9 to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem (prevalence rate <1 case per 10 000 total population) at the global and regional levels by 2000. At the third International Conference in Abidjan, a Global Alliance for the Elimination of Leprosy was launched and a new target (2005) was proposed with the recommendation to eliminate leprosy at the national level in all countries worldwide. Multi drug therapy (MDT) is near 100% effective and case detection is relatively easy. Therefore, all should meet this target by 2005.

severe visual impairment (vision worse than 6/60, inability to count fingers at 6 meters, lagopthalmos, iridocyclitis, and corneal opacities.)

Cure rate. Number of patients who have received a complete treatment (6 blisters for PB patients and 12 blisters for MB patients) in a group of patients detected during a given period (six months before the report period for PB patients and one year for the MB patients). To facilitate the calculation of the average cure rate, it is recommended to take the same period of one year before the report period, as well as for PB and MB patients, divided by the number of patients detected in the selected period.

Detection rate. If the detection rate is high, the possibilities are the same as the first four above plus community awareness may be increasing. If the trend is decreasing, the following possibilities should be considered: 1) transmission is decreasing, 2) MDT services are becoming less active, or 3) image of leprosy has been damaged. Regarding 2) MDT services are becoming less active, it is natural to some extent that the detection decreases after intensified case finding activities like leprosy elimination campaigns. Review if the rest of the services are not deteriorating. Regarding 3) image of leprosy has been damaged, IEC
activities could have a negative impact on the image of leprosy. Review IEC materials and interview patients and the community.