A key indicator for leprosy control

Leprosy Mailing List, April 21^st, 2009

Ref.:    A key indicator for leprosy control

From:  Both P., Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

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Dear Salvatore,

 

This is in response to Dr Johan Velema's invitation (LML April 11^th, 2009) to bring aspects to the table for the discussions referring to a key indicator and target between WHO and ILEP when they meet about the new Global strategy and operational guidelines for the years 2011 - 2015.  I have studied the draft. 

 

I do understand why, when there is a strategy, there is the desire to choose this key indicator (new cases with grade-2 disability [NCG2] rate) and set a target, especially when this is a strategy not for a small thing in a corner of the world but for a world-wide work involving many countries, many organisations, many colleagues, many disciplines and capacities and qualities of service, aiming at working together with persons and communities affected by leprosy addressing needs experienced by them and the wider community.

 

What I am concerned about is that a by ''participants in the discussion'' well understood indicator, reason for an indicator and target (and I agree there are also reasons not to like this one!) could become a source of endless discussion in the future (long after this discussion at the LML side, rightly raised as a pre-decision discussion) distracting us from all the richness as formulated and aimed at in the new Global Strategy.

 

I think we should be really pleased by the holistic approach in this new draft Global strategy.

 

I suppose there will be other responses to the discussion raised by Johan Velema and the result could possibly be the choice of another indicator and target, but I would like to ask the participants in the meeting in Delhi to be conscious and cautious and remember the heat of the discussion referring to the elimination goal and it's target set. It lasted a decade.  What, if we choose an indicator, will we do to avoid it becoming the narrow interpretation or translation of such a good Global strategy?

 

Wish you much success in Delhi and stay close to the people whom you (should) have in mind with this strategy when you deliberate.

 

Piet Both

Country Development Director for TLMI