Leprosy is a special public health problem as it is still an important cause of permanent disabilities and continues to have a very negative social image in the community, frequently responsible for discrimination and stigmatisation.

Leprosy services are provided free of charge within the general health care services but are coordinated by the TB/Leprosy coordinators at all levels.

Multiple Drug Therapy (MDT), the cornerstone of leprosy control, was introduced in the Tanzania National TB/Leprosy Programme in 1983 and reached countrywide coverage in 1990. This resulted in a rapid decline of the number of registered leprosy cases on treatment from nearly 35,000 cases in 1983 to about 3500 in the year 2006.Tanzania reached the leprosy elimination targets in 2006.Currently, the registered prevalence of leprosy is 0.9/10,000.

The main strategy of leprosy control is early case detection and prompt treatment of all leprosy patients and prevention of disability from the disease.Almost three quarter of newly detected leprosy cases have HB disease and female comprise about 40% while children constitute 7%.

good in Tanzania, the number of newly detected leprosy patients with disability has not significantly declined. The disability grade 2 of newly diagnosed leprosy patients has slightly declined from 15% in 1994 to 10% in the year 2003.

Strengthen community awareness and patient centred services can increase early health seeking behaviour, thus minimizing disabilities due to leprosy. Nearly 30% of all leprosy cases in Tanzania develop reaction during and after MDT treatment. However not all of them receive proper management.Also efforts are being undertaken to rehalibitate PAL in collaboration with department of Social Welfare.