(LML) Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

Leprosy Mailing List – March 9,  2019

Ref.:   (LML)  Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

From:  Pieter AM Schreuder, Maastricht, the Netherlands

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Note editor: this information was retrieved from the website of (and credit goes to)  the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy for the interest of the LML readers.

Dear colleagues,

Since the introduction of effective multi-drug therapy (MDT) 30 years ago, the reported prevalence of leprosy (Hansen's disease) has been reduced by more than 95%. However, the number of newly diagnosed leprosy patients has remained above 200,000 per year for the last decade, including thousands of children. Previous efforts to eliminate the disease have focused on early diagnosis, providing treatment for the infection and addressing the physical disabilities.

New scientific advances are changing the way we approach leprosy and may provide innovative ways to fully interrupt transmission of the disease. Recent scientific breakthroughs include improved diagnostic methods, more effective ways to prevent the spread of infections, and new ways of treating people at greatest risk.

Along with these innovations, achieving zero leprosy requires a strong global alignment behind a common vision. The leprosy community feels a renewed sense of urgency to accelerate progress through collaboration

Ahead of World Leprosy Day on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, several leading leprosy groups joined forces to launch a Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy to accelerate progress towards a world without leprosy. The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy will build on and strengthen existing collaborative networks to support leprosy programs as they adopt new tools and approaches.

The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy includes the Novartis Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO, as an observer), the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP), the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation and the  International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement (IDEA). It also includes the national leprosy programmes of Brazil and Ethiopia, the International Leprosy Association, scientific organizations and the academic community. The secretariat for the partnership is located at the Task Force for Global Health.

Membership is open to all organizations and individuals who are committed to zero leprosy and that support the principles, objectives, and activities of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy.  Contact: www.zeroleprosy.org

Pieter AM Schreuder

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com