Single-Dose of Rifampicin (SDR) Scale-up

Locations: Mirpur (Kushtia), Kaliganj (Satkhira), and Rampal (Bagerhat)

Organized by: The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh (TLMIB)
Supported by: National Leprosy Program (NLP), DGHS
In collaboration with: Christian Service Society (CSS), Mukti Naari O Shishu Unnoyon Songstha, and respective Upazila Health Complexes

Goal of SDR Implementation: To reduce the risk of leprosy transmission by providing a preventive single-dose of Rifampicin (SDR) to eligible close contacts of leprosy patients, thereby accelerating efforts towards leprosy elimination in Bangladesh.

Objectives of the Orientation:

  • Train field staff and healthcare professionals on SDR eligibility, consent, and administration
  • Promote awareness and understanding of SDR as a preventive strategy
  • Address social stigma, misconceptions, and community resistance
  • Strengthen local capacity for community-led leprosy prevention

Program Highlights: The orientation sessions were conducted in three upazilas and featured participation from key government officials:

Dr. Mohammed Eunus Ali, Director, MBDC, DGHS

Dr. Md. Zahangir Kabir, Program Manager (TB & Leprosy), DGHS

Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Former Program Manager, NLP

Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, Civil Surgeon, Satkhira

Dr. A. S. M. Mahbubul Alam, Civil Surgeon, Bagerhat

Dr. Pijush Kumar Shaha, UH&FPO, Kushtia 

Key Focus Areas:

  • Practical training on screening and administering SDR
  • Discussion on managing stigma and community fears
  • Sharing best practices for local implementation
  • Live demonstration: In Rampal, one eligible contact received SDR publicly to build community confidence

Impact and Way Forward:

  • Over 100 health workers and volunteers are now equipped to implement SDR protocols
  • Increased community awareness and readiness to support leprosy prevention
  • Strengthened coordination between government and civil society for disease control
  • Follow-up and monitoring systems are in place to track implementation outcomes

The SDR scale-up initiative represents a strategic leap forward in achieving a leprosy-free Bangladesh, grounded in early prevention, inclusion, and community empowerment.

News link:

  1. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Adu8FhJfs/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1JdlnjkedA
  3. https://voiceofsatkhira.com/2025/05/29/%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%97%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%b9%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%9f%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%ae%e0%a6%aa%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b2%e0%a7%87-%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b7%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a0/
  4. https://krishisangbadbangla.com/2025/05/29/%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%97%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%b9%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%9f%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%ae%e0%a6%aa%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b2%e0%a7%87-%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b7%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a0/
  5. https://theeditors.net/?p=60140
  6. https://www.pranerbagerhat.com/2025/05/29/%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%97%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%b9%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%9f%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%ae%e0%a6%aa%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b2%e0%a7%87-%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b7%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a0/
  7. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B5qEsJfYP/
  8. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ASgszWc8c/
  9. https://patradoot.net/2025/05/21/582715.html
  10. https://kalaroanews.com/%e0%a6%95%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b2%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%97%e0%a6%9e%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%9c%e0%a7%87-%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b7%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a0-%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8b%e0%a6%97-%e0%a6%aa%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%a4/
  11. https://voiceofsatkhira.com/2025/05/21/%e0%a6%b8%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%a4%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%b7%e0%a7%80%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%af%e0%a6%bc-%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b7%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a0-%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8b%e0%a6%97%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0-2/
  12. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CdEH9SfvG/
  13. https://gramerdak.com/2908