Even as stray cases of polio have surfaced after a national effort to eradicate the disease, Nepal will launch another national effort to control leprosy by the year 2003.
The campaign to bring down leprosy cases to less than one per 10,000 persons will begin on October 1, Health Minister Sharad Singh Bhandary said.
The campaign will target 17 districts in the terai bordering India. Altogether 7,5000 individuals, or an estimated four per 10,000 persons are currently affected by the disease-down from 100,000 cases in
1965.
Currently 7,392 patients are being treated in the country.
WHO aims to contain the disease world-wide by 2005.
The free movement of diseased persons across the open Indo-Nepal border will hamper the drive to eradicate the disease.