The Enhanced Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Disease Burden due to Leprosy for the five years 2011-2015 and its accompanying set of Operational Guidelines have been published. They can be downloaded from the ILEP website.

This new global anti-leprosy strategy has set the new target of reducing the rate of new cases with grade-two disabilities per 100 000 population by at least 35% by the end of 2015, compared to the baseline at the beginning of 2011. It also includes the recommendation to examine all household contacts of newly detected cases.

These are two key factors which can help ensure early detection of cases of leprosy, prevent disability and help curtail transmission of leprosy.

Other enhancements are concerned with:

• reinforcing the humanitarian issues and rights of people affected by leprosy and absolute assurance of equity and social justice;  
• being rigorous in advocating the use of, and using, dignifying terminology whenever talking about or referring to people affected by leprosy;  
• stressing the particular needs for leprosy control in urban areas;
• highlighting opportunities to explore public-private partnerships;
• assuring clinical services;
• training peripheral health workers so they can refer people affected by leprosy to the appropriate services according to their personal needs; and
• making psycho-social assessments of the needs of each person affected by leprosy.

Click on link for the Enhanced Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Disease Burden due to Leprosy (Plan Period: 2011-2015)

Click on link for the Enhanced Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Disease Burden due to Leprosy (Plan Period: 2011-2015) Operational Guidelines  

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