National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP)

Leprosy is a chronic mildly infectious disease of man mainly involving the skin and nerves, which is well known for its deformities (or “disability”) arising from the nerve damage it causes. It is also known as Hansen’s Disease, named after the Norwegian Physician, who discovered Mycobacterium leprae as the main causative bacterium in 1873. It is believed to be spread by droplets between humans under conditions of prolonged close contact.

The primary aim of the National Leprosy Control Programme is to develop and implement policies and programmes to reduce the transmission of leprosy as well as its associated disabilities. Started as a vertical programme in the 1950s, the programme underwent gradual integration with the health reforms in Ghana in the 1990s, as many of the direct administrative and technical functions were devolved to lower levels. The Ankaful Leprosy & General Hospital, in addition to being the municipal referral hospital for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem municipality in the Central region of Ghana, continues to serve as the National Referral Hospital for complicated leprosy cases, and coordinating centre for programme activities.

Ghana crossed the threshold for eliminating leprosy as a public health problem in 1998. In line with the current WHO leprosy elimination framework, the programme is continuing to work towards interrupting leprosy transmission and achieving Zero Leprosy (i.e., zero disease, zero disability; and zero discrimination and stigma) in Ghana.

Main functions of the Programme:

• Assisting in the development of national policies related to leprosy control
• Monitoring and evaluating sub-national programmes and providing technical advice and support as required.
• Advocating for support from government and donors and channelling same to support programme implementation at sub-national levels.
• Developing guidance documents, training and health education materials.
• Building and maintaining capacity amongst health staff.
• Ensuring availability of medications and logistics in adequate quantities to support key interventions like case-management, contact tracing and chemoprophylaxis, and surveillance.