Leprosy awareness

World Leprosy Day, yesterday, and the 17th International Leprosy Congress in Hyderabad, which starts on Wednesday, have again drawn attention to this medieval disease health club. Leprosy is now curable and all but four countries have achieved the elimination target set by the World Health Organisation, of under one case per 10,000 population. More than 250,000 new cases are still reported each year, but overall the numbers are in decline.

But for those affected and their relatives, the prejudice associated with leprosy is often worse than the disease itself. Millions are subjected to discrimination and social exclusion, limiting their opportunities for education, employment and marriage. "Leper" is still widely used as a derogatory term to describe an outcast from society health club. This discrimination is a denial of human rights. I therefore urge the international community to support the Global Appeal 2008,health club calling for an end to this discrimination and the ignorance and fear that help to promote it.