Leprosy in the News

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Leprosy in the News

Leprosy patients most affected during the two waves of Covid

During the two waves of the pandemic, when non-Covid healthcare facilities were badly affected, leprosy patients were the worst sufferers.

Leprosy cases on the rise during pandemic; eradication deadline revised

Health officials’ preoccupation with the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a rise in the number of leprosy patients, negatively impacting the target set by the Anti-Leprosy Campaign (ALC) to eradicate leprosy by 2025.

How COVID has affected the control of neglected tropical diseases

"It is important to remember that controlling neglected tropical diseases is in the best interest of all countries – those where the diseases are endemic and those where they are not."

Leprosy Hospital Offers Healing, and a Haven, to the Shunned

While leprosy is now easily treated, those who have the disease are still often ostracised. But they’re always welcome at this refuge in India, a nation that records over half the world’s cases.

Leprosy in the News

‘Thank You PM, we are integrated back into society’, say leprosy patients

Leprosy patients, who were virtually excluded from society, thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh for integrating them back into society.

"Centuries-old untouchability towards people afflicted by leprosy hasn’t been eradicated"

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said that untouchability based on caste and religion was abolished by Article 17 of the Constitution, but the centuries-old untouchability towards people afflicted by leprosy has not been completely eradicated even today.

AI tool helps detect leprosy using pictures

Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation, tells us about AI4Leprosy, a diagnostic assistant researchers developed that helps healthcare workers detect leprosy with over 90% accuracy using pictures of a patient’s skin lesion.

‘End Leprosy Discrimination Now, For the Sake of Our Children’

Parents at Alheri leprosy colony outside Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have appealed for an end to discrimination, which they say impacts their children.