Addis Ababa, 22 February 2017 - The World Health Organization Country Office in Ethiopia in collaboration with the Global Leprosy Programme (GLP) organized a training of consultants on the Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020 to support Global Leprosy Program implementation at country level. The training took place in Addis Ababa, from 13-17 February 2017, and brought together Leprosy, Case Management NTD and Public Health Experts from WHO African Region as well as NTD/NPOs from 7 WHO country Offices (Ethiopia, DRC, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Bangladesh and Indonesia).

The objective of this training is mainly to strengthen technical capacity of member states in implementing the Global Leprosy Strategy 2016‒2020 and Regional NTD Strategic Plan. It further aimed at training selected consultants and WHO staff in the Global Leprosy Strategy 2016‒2020, its Operational Manual and M&E Guide familiarizing them with a more holistic approach to addressing leprosy as part of a broader health and development agenda, underpinned by local and global evidence and updating knowledge and skills for clinical and programmatic aspects of leprosy control.

Representing WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Dr Akpaka Kalu, Dr Aceng-Dokotum Esther, Team Leader, Communicable Diseases, at WCO Ethiopia, welcomed the participants and reminded the participants that through concerted efforts of the national programmes in the endemic countries, the support of WHO, partners, and donors, it has been possible to achieve the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem at Regional level. “Though a lot has been achieved in the elimination effort, there are still pocket sites at various countries with on-going transmission for leprosy that requires the continued support of WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) to these countries in order to sustain the gains achieved in leprosy elimination and to accelerate leprosy control which leads us towards a leprosy-free world”, she stated.

In April 2016, WHO has launched the "Global Leprosy Strategy 2016–2020: Accelerating towards a leprosy-free world" – which aims to reinvigorate efforts for leprosy control and to avoid disabilities, especially among children affected by the disease in endemic countries.

During the five-day training, several presentations were made including on the 3 pillars of the “Global Leprosy Strategy 2016‒2020", namely Strengthen government ownership, coordination and partnership, Stop leprosy and its complications, and Stop discrimination and promote inclusion respectively. The training gave also the opportunity for participants to extensively discuss different Leprosy programme monitoring mechanisms.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus. The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. It is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability, however, left untreated, leprosy causes progressive and permanent damage. Much has been achieved since the introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT) in 1995, which provides a simple yet highly effective cure for all types of leprosy. More than 16 million leprosy patients have been treated with MDT over the past 20 years. Globally there are 22 high burden countries for leprosy; 10 in the African region including Ethiopia.

The achievement of targets set by the global leprosy strategy largely depends on an effective implementation plan at national and sub-national level and a strong monitoring and supervision system. The GLP focuses on supporting Member states in developing national implementation plans and leprosy programme monitoring tool.