Global leprosy situation, 2007

Overview

The global burden of leprosy – measured in terms of the number of new cases detected during the year – is stabilizing, and there is a steady declining trend. Timely detection of new cases and prompt treatment with multidrug therapy continue to be the cornerstones of the strategy to reduce the burden of leprosy further. In all endemic countries, multidrug therapy is provided free of charge to all registered patients. National programmes have emphasized the provision of good-quality diagnostic and treatment services that are equitably distributed, affordable and easily accessible.

The Global strategy for further reducing the leprosy burden and sustaining leprosy control activities (2006–2010): operational guidelines has been widely implemented in all WHO regions with the aim of sustaining the gains achieved under the initiative to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem. All major international and national organizations working to control leprosy have endorsed the global strategy and the guidelines, and with their active support, national programmes in all endemic countries have been successful in sustaining activities to control leprosy. The emphasis is increasingly being put on maintaining the quality of services and improving the care of patients in order to prevent disability and provide rehabilitation.

In almost all of the highly endemic countries, control activities have been integrated within the general health-care system, although details of the integration process vary depending on the health infrastructure and availability of resources. Over the years, the integration process has been strengthened further, and this has led to improvements being made in the quality of care, the expansion of service coverage and the ability to sustain activities, especially at the peripheral level.