WHO Renews Pledge for Leprosy-Free World as Global Partners Mark 25 Years of Collaboration

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating leprosy worldwide, highlighting both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain ahead of World Leprosy Day on 25 January.

Leprosy, one of humanity's oldest known diseases, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria and primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent disabilities and severe social stigma. However, the disease can be cured through multidrug therapy (MDT).

According to WHO data from 2024, significant progress has been made in combating this ancient disease. Of the 188 countries and territories that submitted reports, 55 recorded zero new cases. Despite this progress, 172,717 new cases were detected globally during the same period.

A cornerstone of the fight against leprosy has been the partnership between WHO and pharmaceutical company Novartis, which has provided free MDT and clofazimine to all leprosy patients worldwide since 2000. This collaboration represents one of the most sustained pharmaceutical donation programmes in global health history.

To mark 25 years of partnership, WHO and Novartis have extended their Memorandum of Understanding for an additional five years, covering 2026 to 2030. The renewed agreement includes continued supply of MDT and clofazimine, plus funding for procurement and distribution of single dose rifampicin for post-exposure prophylaxis.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, praised the partnership's impact. He noted that the steadfast support from partners like Novartis has helped transform millions of lives and moved the world closer to eliminating this ancient disease.

The availability of free MDT has enabled cure of the disease, prevention of disabilities, reduction of stigma, and allowed affected individuals to continue working and living normal lives. Clofazimine has also been essential for treating lepra reactions, which are severe inflammatory episodes that can cause disabilities if untreated.

Dr Lutz Hegemann, President of Global Health at Novartis, stated that combating leprosy has been part of the company's history since discovering the first effective cure. He reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing a world free of leprosy.

The theme for this year's World Leprosy Day is "Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma". This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Mr Yohei Sasakawa's service as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.

Mr Sasakawa emphasised that social stigma remains one of the most stubborn challenges, often persisting beyond treatment completion. People with residual disabilities from leprosy may face discrimination including forced divorce, lost educational opportunities, and unfair dismissal. Even after cure, they often endure social exclusion.

WHO's leprosy elimination efforts form part of the broader fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases, supporting the global goal of a world free of NTDs.