Global leprosy situation, 2010

Overview

National leprosy control programmes in the WHO regions have been successfully implementing the global strategy for 2006–2010. This strategy is based on detecting new cases in a timely manner and providing free treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT); it has been effective in reducing the burden of disease in many endemic countries. In preparation for the next 5 years, WHO, in collaboration with national leprosy control programmes and other partners, has developed an enhanced strategy; the new strategy places additional emphasis on sustaining the provision of high-quality patient care and reducing the burden of disease not only by detecting new cases early but also by reducing disabilities, stigma and discrimination, and providing social and economic rehabilitation to people affected by leprosy

Integrated leprosy control services have played an important part in sustaining services, such as diagnosis, treatment and the prevention of disabilities, in many countries where the disease is endemic. Referral centres that are part of the general health-care system have been crucial in helping primary care services deal with complications, prevent disabilities and provide rehabilitation.

By the end of the first quarter of 2010, a total of 141 countries and territories had submitted reports to WHO on the leprosy situation in their area. Altogether, 38 countries reported from the WHO African Region, 36 from the Region of the Americas, 10 from the South-East Asia Region, 22 from the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 35 from the Western Pacific Region. To calculate rates for indicators, such as registered prevalence and new-case detection, mid-year population data for 2009 published by the United Nations Population Division were used.