Curbing leprosy must be a priority

It is very concerning that leprosy continues to affect thousands of people in Bangladesh annually, despite the country having eliminated the disease as a public health concern nearly 30 years ago. With around 3,000 new cases detected every year, our goal of achieving zero leprosy prevalence by 2030 now appears uncertain. The persistence of the disease, coupled with related stigma, funding shortages and institutional neglect, exposes serious gaps in our public health response.According to a recent report by this daily, 13 districts in the country are still heavily affected by leprosy infection. In the first nine months of last year, 2,640 new cases were reported, while 3,519 cases were recorded in 2024 and 3,639 the year before. The National Leprosy Programme under the health directorate has played a crucial role in identifying patients and providing treatment, and a national strategic plan for 2023-2030 is in place, but these efforts are being undermined by structural and financial constraints. Reportedly, after the sectoral programme expired last year, essential activities such as training, surveillance, and capacity-building have stalled, with operations continuing largely on interim support from the World Health Organization. Many sanctioned posts remain vacant, weakening field-level detection and follow-up. The consequences of this neglect are visible in the Sylhet Leprosy Hospital, the country’s largest specialised facility to treat the disease, which operates under severe strain, with crumbling infrastructure and acute staff shortages. Only a fraction of its beds are usable and diagnostic services have been suspended due to a lack of personnel. Stigma remains another major barrier. Many patients are reluctant to disclose symptoms or seek care due to fear, superstition, and social exclusion. Tea garden workers and other vulnerable groups are still the hardest hit and need targeted awareness and support.As health experts have emphasised, eliminating leprosy requires more than medical treatment; it demands sustained awareness campaigns involving communities, the media, and local leaders. If the government is serious about meeting its 2030 target, it must treat leprosy elimination as a priority. This means ensuring stable funding for the National Leprosy Programme, filling vacant posts, strengthening surveillance, and urgently upgrading specialised facilities like the Sylhet Leprosy Hospital. At the same time, coordinated efforts between the government and NGOs to end stigma are essential.