1903-1941
In Indonesia the first medicine prescribed for leprosy was a mixture of a fruit called chaulmoogra given in the form of tablets, liquid oil for injections and cream. Chaulmoogra was discovered as a medicine for leprosy in 1903. It has a weak bacteriostatic effect.
1951 – 1981
DDS was discovered in 1941 and used worldwide for leprosy treatment since 1948.
Indonesia started to introduce DDS in 1951. Up to 1968, people with leprosy were treated with DDS in special leprosy clinics, separated from general disease clinics. From 1969 onwards patients with leprosy were seen in the general health services amidst people with other diseases. People affected by leprosy were not isolated anymore.
1982:
WHO recommended MDT for leprosy treatment in 1981. Shortly after this, Indonesia started introducing MDT. Due to the shortage of budget, the MDT program was first implemented only on a small scale. MDT regiments followed the WHO recommendation ie. 6 doses (Rifampicin + DDS) for PB and 24 doses (Rifampicin + Lamprene + DDS) for MB cases.
In Indonesia the first medicine prescribed for leprosy was a mixture of a fruit called chaulmoogra given in the form of tablets, liquid oil for injections and cream. Chaulmoogra was discovered as a medicine for leprosy in 1903. It has a weak bacteriostatic effect.
1951 – 1981
DDS was discovered in 1941 and used worldwide for leprosy treatment since 1948.
Indonesia started to introduce DDS in 1951. Up to 1968, people with leprosy were treated with DDS in special leprosy clinics, separated from general disease clinics. From 1969 onwards patients with leprosy were seen in the general health services amidst people with other diseases. People affected by leprosy were not isolated anymore.
1982:
WHO recommended MDT for leprosy treatment in 1981. Shortly after this, Indonesia started introducing MDT. Due to the shortage of budget, the MDT program was first implemented only on a small scale. MDT regiments followed the WHO recommendation ie. 6 doses (Rifampicin + DDS) for PB and 24 doses (Rifampicin + Lamprene + DDS) for MB cases.
1989:
With the assistance of International NGOs such as Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation (SMHF), the Nederlandse Stichting voor Leprabestrijding (NSL), The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), Ciba-Geigy Leprosy Fund (CGLF), and WHO, Indonesia began the implementation of MDT on a big scale with an intensive program throughout the country.
1991 onwards:
Indonesia adopted the WHO global target as objective for its NLCP, ie. to bring down the leprosy prevalence to 1 case per 10,000 inhabitants by the year 2000. From this time the name of the NLCP became National Leprosy Elimination Program. There was no more treatment with mono DDS. Indonesia always adopted the regiment of treatment as recommended by WHO. In 1997, the regiment for MB cases was shortened from 24 to 12 doses to be taken within 12 to 18 months, the regiment for PB remained the same with 6 doses to be taken within 6 to 9 months.
With the assistance of International NGOs such as Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation (SMHF), the Nederlandse Stichting voor Leprabestrijding (NSL), The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), Ciba-Geigy Leprosy Fund (CGLF), and WHO, Indonesia began the implementation of MDT on a big scale with an intensive program throughout the country.
1991 onwards:
Indonesia adopted the WHO global target as objective for its NLCP, ie. to bring down the leprosy prevalence to 1 case per 10,000 inhabitants by the year 2000. From this time the name of the NLCP became National Leprosy Elimination Program. There was no more treatment with mono DDS. Indonesia always adopted the regiment of treatment as recommended by WHO. In 1997, the regiment for MB cases was shortened from 24 to 12 doses to be taken within 12 to 18 months, the regiment for PB remained the same with 6 doses to be taken within 6 to 9 months.
