Leprosy:
Global Target Attained

The overall target for the global elimination of leprosy as a public health problem, set ten years ago, has been attained. In 1991, WHO Member States resolved to decrease the level of leprosy in the world by over 90 per cent. This has now been accomplished. To achieve this dramatic reduction of the disease burden, the leprosy elimination effort has increased access to early diagnosis and free cure in communities at risk. The key force in the elimination effort is the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Leprosy. Currently chaired by India, it is spearheaded by the national programmes of major endemic countries, WHO, The Nippon Foundation, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, Novartis and the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, Danish International Development Assistance and the World Bank. Created in 1999, this formal Alliance was the natural successor of a little known but highly effective partnership, actively fighting the disease over the last decade.

The victory on the global level must now be reproduced on every national level. Full control of leprosy has eluded mainly six countries: Brazil, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar and Nepal. India is maximizing the availability of resources for leprosy through the World Bank and other partners.

Today, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy are easy. Essential work is being carried out to integrate leprosy services into existing general health services. This is especially important for communities at risk of the disease, which are often the poorest of the poor and under-served. Treatment with multidrug therapy is highly effective. It stops transmission of the disease starting with the first dose and prevents disabilities. Over the past 15 years, about 11 million leprosy patients have been cured with this treatment. Multidrug therapy consists of three drugs, which need to be taken by the patient for 6 or 12 months, depending on the severity of the disease. Novartis offers strong support through WHO in the form of free multidrug therapy drugs until at least the end of 2005, which would cure between 2.5 million and 2.8 million patients during the intervening period.

Links:
The World Health Organization (WHO)
The Nippon Foundation
The International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
Denmark’s official development and environmental assistance
The World Bank