Publications

Since the introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT) for leprosy, there has been significant progress globally and within the WHO African Region towards leprosy elimination as a public health problem. By 2008, many African countries had achieved this milestone. By 2010, most countries globally had done so. Building on this progress, the goal is now to achieve the interruption of transmission of leprosy by 2030, as aligned with the Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap 2021–2030 and the Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030.

On 17 July 2024, the WHO Regional Office for Africa held a virtual consultation to discuss these goals with national programmes and stakeholders. Dr Dorothy Achu, Team Lead for Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases in the African Region, opened the meeting by welcoming participants and emphasizing the ongoing challenges and the need for persistent efforts. Dr Yves Thierry Barogui outlined the meeting's objectives, which included an update on the epidemiological situation of leprosy, sharing the latest WHO technical guidance, identifying implementation challenges and opportunities, and determining the next steps towards achieving the 2030 targets.