02087nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653001500051653001000066653002100076653000900097653001000106653002000116653001100136653001100147653001200158653000900170653001600179653002800195653002300223653001800246653001500264653002100279653001700300100001800317245013300335300001100468490000700479520124900486022001401735       1993                            d  c199310aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge Distribution10aAged10aChild10aContact Tracing10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aPopulation Surveillance10aProgram evaluation10aPublic health10aRegistries10aSex Distribution10aSouth Africa1 aTshibangu N N00aBophuthatswana's contribution towards the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in southern Africa by the year 2000.  a663-710 v123 a<p>Before independence in December 1977, the control of leprosy in Bophuthatswana was conducted by specialized centres such as Mjanyana, Mkambati, Westfort, etc in the Republic of South Africa. As a result of this 'verticalization', very few cases of leprosy were diagnosed and treated in the general and/or community hospitals. Professional awareness of the disease in these institutions decreased and stigmatization of its sufferers by the community increased. In 1989, the first leprosy control programme based on the multidrug therapy as recommended by the World Health Organization was jointly launched by the Leprosy Mission of Southern Africa and the Bophuthatswana Department of Health and Social Services. The initial leprosy database for the programme was provided by the review of the medical records at Westfort Hospital (the only leprosy referral centre in the region) from 1973 to 1988 (15 years). This article reviews the epidemiologic course of leprosy in Bophuthatswana as it has evolved over the last 15 years, prior to the launching of the programme in 1989, and assesses the impact of the newly introduced control measures on the intended elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in the region by the year 2000.</p>  a0723-1393