By Sola Charles
To mark the 2026 World Leprosy Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for the elimination of the social stigma surrounding the disease, which is one of humanity's oldest diseases.
Themed "Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma", WHO renewed its commitment to a leprosy-free world announcing a five-year extension of the partnership with Novartis through 2030 to ensure that multidrug therapy (MDT), which is the only cure for the disease, is provided free of charge to every patient worldwide.
The theme highlights the harsh reality that social exclusion often lasts much longer than the medical infection.
While 55 countries reported zero new cases in 2024, the fight remains urgent as 172,717 new cases were detected globally in the same year.
Left untreated, leprosy, which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, leads to permanent nerve damage and physical disabilities, though it remains entirely curable when caught early.
WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa, marking his 25th year in the role, warned that discrimination remains a stubborn challenge that often persists beyond the end of treatment.
He highlighted that survivors frequently face forced divorces, job loss, and social isolation, enduring the pain of exclusion even after being medically cleared. The push against leprosy is now a central part of the broader mission to wipe out Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
With World NTD Day approaching on January 30, health leaders are calling for a combination of science, equity, and global solidarity to ensure that stigma no longer stands in the way of a total cure.
No comments:
Post a Comment