Comprehensive Leprosy and Rehabilitation Services (CLRS) Program

Leprosy and its associated challenges are still the public concern despite the national efforts that aimed at reducing the burden. With the introduction of MDT for leprosy in the country, the prevalence of the disease has sharply gone down. However, the notifications of new leprosy cases with visible deformities remain constant that limited in achieving case detection and cure rates. Due to stigma associated with the disease and to prevent potential discrimination, patients try to hide their disease by not immediately seeking medical help on finding signs of leprosy. And also once treatment for leprosy has commenced, patients may stop going to clinics or reluctant to take their medication due to ignorance and thus promote transmission of the disease and results in gross deformities through time. Moreover, because of their poor self-treatment practices and considerable knowledge gap on handling their wounds, persons affected by leprosy are experiencing further disabilities and complicated problems.
To curb the aforementioned challenges, Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL) is implementing a five year Comprehensive Leprosy and Rehabilitation Services Programme in Ethiopia (CLRS) with the financial support from TLMI and JOA partnership with a grand cost of 13,933,603.
Through enabling to create a more effective institution, the project intended to increase quality and access of leprosy and rehabilitation services along with reduction of widespread stigma and discrimination against people affected by leprosy. Moreover, the project envisioned to build viable and sustainable livelihoods for people affected by leprosy and people with disability by access to suitable credit facilities and financial sources that would enable them to engage in income generating activities.