Zero-Leprosy in Pandemic: Experts, Advocates Discuss New Strategies

Yohei Sasakawa – WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and Chairman of Sasakawa Health Foundation speaking at the 3rd of the “Don’t Forget Leprosy” webinar series organized by Sasakawa Health Foundation on Dec 2. Credit: Stella PaulBy Stella PaulHyderabad, Dec 3 2021 (IPS) As 2021 nears its end, public health systems worldwide remain severely strained by COVID 19, which is showing no sign of ending. But even as countries battle to control the deadly pandemic, they must also maintain the progress made against other diseases, including leprosy, global leprosy experts and advocates have urged. On Thursday, at a webinar organized by the Sasakawa Health Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO) and over 150 members of several leprosy-affected people’s organizations expressed their concerns of leprosy resurgence as new cases continue to come to light. In Comoros, in East Africa, hundreds of new cases had been detected in the smaller islands, and many of the affected are children. “We have carried out case-finding mini-campaigns in targeted areas of Anjouan and Mohéli (islands in Comoros) with the help of community health workers and have detected new cases including in children aged 15 and above,” said Dr. Aboubacar Mzembaba, National Programme Manager, Leprosy & Tuberculosis in the Ministry of Health, Comoros. Data shared by Mzembaba shows that in 2020, there were 217 new cases, which increased to 239 in 2021. He said about 33 percent of children...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: COVID-19 Editors' Choice Featured Global Health Human Rights Humanitarian Emergencies Inequity TerraViva United Nations #Sasakawa IPS UN Bureau leprosy Source Type: news