Decentralization of the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in Rio de Janeiro State: advances and problem

RESUMO

Brazil has included leprosy among the diseases assisted in basic health units, as part of the commitment to the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Leprosy. The Health Secreatariat of Rio de Janeiro State defined the universal access to diagnosis, to WHO Disability Grade evaluation and to the treatment of leprosy sufferers as a political-technical priority in all the basic health units of the state. Decentralization of diagnosis and treatment of leprosy became a priority, and increased from 308 (20.04%) health units with these actions available in December, 2000, to 622 (40.79%) in July, 2004. Epidemiological indicators seem not to have been significantly influenced by this, Many problems disturb the decentralization process in Rio de Janeiro. We hope we can obtain recources with governmental and non-governmental organizations to go on with current strategy (trainings, local supervisions, support to municipal managers in descentralization process, increase in the diffusion of signals and symptoms of the disease in communication media) to reach the target of leprosy elimination in Rio de Janeiro State