India's leprosy crisis among children intensifies with 3,832 new cases documented in 2025-26, significantly surpassing national elimination targets. Alarmingly, 37 children already present advanced Grade-2 disability upon diagnosis, indicating delayed detection and intervention. The National Leprosy Elimination Programme faces mounting pressure to achieve transmission interruption by 2027, requiring urgent strengthening of early screening protocols, community awareness campaigns, and healthcare accessibility in endemic regions to prevent further disability progression and reduce disease burden.

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