Ethiopia Makes Strides Against Leprosy, Aiming for Complete Elimination by 2030
Ethiopia has achieved a significant milestone in its fight against leprosy, successfully eliminating the disease as a public health concern in 1999. This achievement followed decades of dedicated effort. While the country has reached the elimination threshold of one case per 10,000 people, the fight isn’t over. Around 3,000 new leprosy cases are still reported annually. This persistent challenge is attributed to a few factors, including limited community awareness about the disease, fear of stigma and discrimination surrounding leprosy, and insufficient active case-finding and contact tracing initiatives. Alarmingly, approximately 10% of new cases in 2023 involved grade 2 disability, frequently enough resulting in visible deformities and severe vision loss. Undeterred, Ethiopia, with support from the world Health Association (WHO) and partners, is intensifying its efforts to completely eradicate leprosy by 2030, aligning with the WHO’s global leprosy strategy. As 2021, health authorities have been actively searching for cases in 142 communities where leprosy is prevalent. This proactive approach aims to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment, while also emphasizing community education to raise awareness about the disease.## Ethiopia’s Ongoing Fight Against Leprosy: An Interview
**Host:** Ethiopia achieved a remarkable milestone in eliminating leprosy as a public health concern back in 1999, but we understand the battle isn’t fully won. Can you give us an update on the current situation?
**Alex Reed:** You’re right, while the 1999 achievement was a notable victory, Ethiopia still records approximately 3,000 new leprosy cases each year [[1](https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0009640&type=printable)]. This highlights the persistent challenges we face in fully eradicating the disease.
**Host:** What are some of the factors contributing to these ongoing cases?
**Alex Reed:** Several factors play a role. Limited community awareness about leprosy, frequently enough coupled with fear of stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease, leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, there’s a need for more robust active case-finding and contact tracing initiatives to identify and treat cases early on.
**Host:** That’s concerning.We understand that a significant portion of new cases involve noticeable disabilities. Could you elaborate?
**Alex Reed:** Sadly, yes. Around 10% of new cases in 2023 presented with grade 2 disability, often resulting in visible deformities and severe vision loss [[1](https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0009640&type=printable)]. These disabilities underscore the urgency of early diagnosis and treatment.
**Host:** What steps are being taken to address these challenges and ultimately achieve leprosy eradication by 2030?
**Alex Reed:**
Ethiopia, supported by the World Health organization and partners, is intensifying its efforts through various measures. These include proactive case-finding initiatives in leprosy-prevalent communities, a strong emphasis on community education to reduce stigma and encourage early reporting, and strengthening contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
**Host:** That’s encouraging to hear.It seems Ethiopia is taking a multifaceted approach. What role can the international community play in supporting these efforts?
**Alex Reed:**
Continued funding for leprosy control programs is crucial. Moreover,sharing best practices and technological advancements across borders will be instrumental in accelerating progress towards global eradication.
**Host:** what message do you have for our readers, especially those who may not be directly affected by leprosy?
**Alex Reed:** Leprosy is curable, yet it continues to cause unnecessary suffering and disability. We all have a role to play in raising awareness, challenging stigma, and supporting efforts towards global eradication. what do you think can be done, both individually and collectively, to help achieve this goal?
## Ethiopia’s Ongoing Fight Against Leprosy: An Interview
**Host:** Ethiopia achieved a remarkable milestone in eliminating leprosy as a public health concern back in 1999, but we understand the battle isn’t fully won. Can you give us an update on the current situation and the challenges Ethiopia faces in its journey to fully eradicate leprosy by 2030?
**Alex Reed:** You’re right. While reaching elimination status in 1999 was a huge victory,it doesn’t mean the fight is over. We still see approximately 3,000 new leprosy cases reported annually. [1] This persistent challenge stems from a few factors. Firstly, there’s limited community awareness about leprosy, often leading to late detection.
Secondly, fear of stigma and discrimination discourages individuals from seeking help. This stigma can lead to delayed treatment and increase the risk of permanent disability.
we face challenges with insufficient active case-finding and contact tracing initiatives, which are crucial for identifying new cases early and preventing further spread.
**Host:** It’s concerning to hear that 10% of new cases in 2023 involved grade 2 disability, often leading to visible deformities and severe vision loss. How is Ethiopia addressing this?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely, the emergence of grade 2 disability cases is deeply concerning. It highlights the urgency of our efforts.
Ethiopia, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, is intensifying efforts to ensure early detection and treatment. This includes proactive case searching in communities where leprosy is prevalent, as was done in 142 communities in 2021. [1]
We are also prioritizing community education to raise awareness about leprosy, dispel myths and stigma, and encourage people to seek prompt medical attention if they experience any symptoms.
**Host:** What can the international community do to support Ethiopia in achieving its goal of leprosy eradication by 2030?
**Alex Reed:** International collaboration is crucial. Financial support for research, development of new diagnostic tools and treatments, and strengthening healthcare infrastructure in affected regions is essential.
Additionally, sharing best practices, expertise, and resources can significantly bolster Ethiopia’s efforts.Awareness campaigns and advocacy to combat stigma and discrimination surrounding leprosy are also vital contributions from the global community. [1]
**Host:** Thank you for shedding light on this important issue. We wish Ethiopia all the best in its fight against leprosy and hope its efforts serve as a model for other countries striving for elimination.
