Amman, Sep 19 (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday declared Jordan as the first country in the world to eliminate leprosy.
“WHO congratulates Jordan on this impressive achievement,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Leprosy has afflicted humanity for thousands of years, but country by country we are preventing transmission and freeing individuals, families and communities from its suffering and stigma.”
The WHO said Jordan has not reported any cases of leprosy for more than two decades. The global health body attributed this success to “strong political commitment and effective public health strategies.”
The announcement came after WHO appointed an independent team to assess the situation following the Ministry of Health’s interest in confirming leprosy elimination. “Jordan’s elimination of this centuries-old disease is a historic milestone in public health and a major breakthrough for efforts to eliminate leprosy globally,” said Saima Wajed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, who heads the WHO Global Leprosy Programme.
Wazed said leprosy is not just a disease but also “a fight against stigma and psychological and socio-economic harm.”
Let us tell you that leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which can spread through droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated patients.
It is also known as Hansen’s disease, and it primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. Leprosy can be cured with multi drug therapy (MDT) and early diagnosis and treatment can prevent disability.
According to 2019 data, more than 10,000 new cases of leprosy were reported in India, Brazil and Indonesia.
About 13 other countries – Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka and the United Republic of Tanzania – each reported 1,000-10,000 new cases.
–IANS
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