The impact of MDT implementation in the Tanzania National TB-Leprosy Programme.

Aware of the world-wide concern about the dapsone monotherapy problem, the National TB-Leprosy Programme (NTLP) has gradually introduced the multiple drug (MDT) treatment of leprosy in its activities . The programme as most of the delegates will recall started in July 1 977, and 3 years later MDT was started in some patients thought to be resistant to dapsone . Since then, the number of patients put on MDT has been gradually increasing from year to year (see Table 1 ) . The new regimen has brought new hope to many old leprosy patients; such that the OPD attendance rate has somewhat increased .