Eliminating leprosy
Elimination of leprosy as a public health problem is well under way in all countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region.
In 1991, the Forty-fourth World Health Assembly adopted a resolution aiming for elimination of leprosy by 2000. While this target was attained globally, several countries have not reached the goal at the national level. In 1999, the target date for reaching elimination was extended to 2005.
Regional elimination strategy Regional and global milestones Elimination campaigns and special projects (LEC & SAPEL) Elimination monitoring (LEM) Eliminating leprosy in the Western PacificMDT was introduced to the Region in 1985, and 10% coverage was achieved by 1988 and almost 100% coverage by 1994. As a result, elimination was achieved at the regional level and 15 countries at the national level in 1991. By the end of 2000, 35 of the Region's 37 countries and areas had already reached elimination.
Today only two small countries with less than 0.1% of the Region's total population have yet to attain the elimination target.
A variety of leprosy control activities are essential to eliminating the disease. Please explore these activities inside the links below.
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Photos: the King and Queen of Cambodia offer the last dose of MDT to leprosy patients, symbolically marking the achievement of leprosy elimination in their country