A total of 446 leprosy detection centres will be set up in Erode district of the state from November 29 to December 5 under the Modified Leprosy Eradication Project (MLEC IV) for complete eradication of leprosy in the district. Each centre will cover a population of 5000 in rural areas and 10,000 in municipal areas wherein trained doctors and paramedical staff will check the patients. An awareness campaign will precede the setting up of the camps.

A total of 143 patients were detected in the camps held in 59 town pachayats and at Erode municipality during July 2002. A total of 1185 patients were identified under MLEC I (1997 to 2000), 847 under MLEC II (2000-01) and 313 cases were detected under MLEC III (Nov 2001-Nov 2002). The objective of MLEC IV is to bring down the number of affected person to one per 10,000.

After the merger of Leprosy Eradication Department with the Public Health Department in July 1997, only 14,836 new patients were identified till September 30, 2002.