Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) persist in places like Nepal where many people living in poverty do not have adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). This contributes to the spread of NTDs like leprosy, which can cause disabilities and drive people […]
Josiane lives with her mother Josephine in a little grass hut with a beautiful view of the hills near Bukavu, Eastern Congo. She welcomes us with a smile and our visit creates quite a stir among the neighbours. They don’t […]
On 26 August 2019 Geoff Warne, ILEP CEO, addressed the Committee at its opening session. He thanked them for so positively including the disabling effects of leprosy within the scope of their work. Even when there are no visible impairments, […]
At the invitation of the Ministry of Health, the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) and the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a joint review of the leprosy programme in Nepal in July. This was done in close collaboration with […]
The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analysed leprosy research and developed priorities in the key areas that are expected to accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. This completed body of work now forms globally agreed research agenda for leprosy. The reports […]
A proposal for the 100&Change, a MacArthur Foundation competition for US $100 million, was submitted on August 6. MacArthur’s goal is to use its investments to take on problems that cannot be solved any other way than through a huge […]
ILEP, in association with the NNN (NGO NTDs Network), has been advocating to make sure that the new NTDs Roadmap fully incorporates the ongoing consequences of NTDs like leprosy. While we recognise the enthusiasm to see a 90% reduction in […]
In order to track progress towards the goal of Zero Discrimination and Stigma, ILEP has reviewed and updated the list of discriminatory laws found worldwide. The current list shows a total of 139 laws that discriminate against people affected by leprosy in […]
From September 11 to 13, ILEP will be at its booth at the International Leprosy Congress (ILC). We hope that you’ll come and visit us! ILEP would love to showcase the breadth of work that is going on in the […]
Guides on Health-Related Stigma and Mental Wellbeing Health and social welfare departments, non-governmental organisations and other agencies need help to better understand what stigma is and what can be done to reduce its impact. Responding to this need, ILEP and the Neglected Tropical Disease […]
Resource mobilisation is a key part of the function of the partnership, and GPZL is actively working to increase the alignment of existing leprosy funding and to identify and secure new funds. A partnership and resource mobilisation strategy is being […]
A billion people around the world who live with disabilities are being left behind without access to healthcare. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has issued a major publication on access to health services for the billion people […]
ILEP representatives participated in the meeting of NTD programme managers in Addis Ababa in July. The three-day meeting started with a review of progress on the WHO Roadmap on NTDs from 2012-2020, and went on to look at progress in […]
A new publication from WHO advises countries on how to strengthen rehabilitation in health services. ILEP Members involved in rehabilitation are advised to take note. This month, as part of the Rehabilitation 2030 initiative, WHO published Rehabilitation in health systems: guide […]
The NTD Support Center has invited proposals for operational research on how to include NTDs within Universal health coverage (UHC) in national health systems. UHC is one of the cornerstones of the Sustainable Development Goals. The core principle is that all people have […]
Interviewed by Andie Tucker from Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy Communications Dr Ann Aerts leads the Novartis Foundation. She has been a catalyst in the formation of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy and a key adviser to the partnership. […]
By Lepra UK Why Mental Health Matters Mental health issues are not something that can immediately come to mind when you think of leprosy or lymphatic filariasis diagnosis. Many people may see the physical effects of the disease first without […]
Julie Jacobson (formerly Gates Foundation) has been contracted by the GPZL Secretariat to help identify and design approaches to potential new major donors for zero leprosy. The focus is to fund the Research Agenda (that is, the consensus set of […]
As part of its global advocacy strategy to mainstream the rights of persons affected by leprosy within the disability rights movement, The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI) took part in the Civil Society Forum (CSF) and the Conference of the States […]
In her capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Alice Cruz delivers a report each year to the UN Human Rights Council. This year her focus was women […]
Earlier this year, Fontilles launched a Spanish portal and an English overview dedicated to the history of their organisation. Historical archives, developed by Fontilles and the University of Alicante in collaboration with the Sasakawa Health Foundation, are meant to increase […]
How to fulfil the 2030 Agenda for stigmatised social groups Geneva, 18 June 2019 – What is known about leprosy as a condition, from a scientific or biomedical perspective, does not address how people affected by the disease are dehumanised – day […]
ILEP’s Annual Report covers our activities in 2018. We are proud to share this report with you as we continue to work collaboratively towards #zerotransmission, #zerodisabilities and #zerodiscrimination. Read the full report here.
Interviewed by Jessica Cook and Andie Tucker, Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy Communications Dr Ibtissam Khoudri leads the leprosy programme in Morocco’s Ministry of Health and is a chairperson for the Operational Excellence working sub-group 5 on infrastructure and operational capacity. […]
We have written short précis on four topics that may be of interest to ILEP Members. The speech of WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros, in the WHA Opening Session referred to Universal Health Coverage, primary health care, reforms to the WHO, […]
GB Paralympian Stef Reid lost her right foot in a boating accident at aged 15. Despite her talent and tenacity seeing her fulfil her dream of becoming a professional sportsperson, she has a calling to encourage and mentor those struggling […]
In a webinar on 29 May 2019 the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) has outlined its Zero Leprosy Country Model. This consists of four elements: Zero leprosy toolkit of best practices, which is currently under development through the work of […]
The Recognizing Excellence Around Champions of Health (REACH) Awards acknowledge those who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment in the field of disease elimination. From boots-on-the-ground innovators to local community health workers, the REACH Awards aim to celebrate critical contributions […]
Alice Cruz, the UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, made her first official visit since the creation of her mandate, to Brazil from 7 to 14 May 2019. As […]
With 198 respondents, the first survey on indicators around leprosy will be used to develop the WHO’s post-2020 global leprosy strategy, expected to be released in the next year. In February and March 2019, the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy […]
Netherlands Leprosy Relief has changed its name and organisational structure, but they continue to push towards a reality where No Leprosy Remains. Netherlands Leprosy Relief has worked towards a world without leprosy over the past 50 years. As their ambition […]
The International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) General Assembly this month focused on Leaving No One Behind: ensuring persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups are included in development cooperation. ILEP and some of its Member associations are also members […]
Since 1 May 2019 the leprosy work at the Novartis Foundation has been reallocated and integrated into the new Global Health & Corporate Responsibility organisation of Novartis. For over 30 years, Novartis and the Novartis Foundation have been working with […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) have said that disease prevention and treatment will help to reduce poverty and economic disparity. According to Dr Paul Saunderson, the Medical Director at American Leprosy Missions and chair of […]
ILEP President’s Statement by Jan van Berkel This World Leprosy Day, Sunday 27 January, provides an important opportunity to draw attention to the often-neglected aspects of leprosy – the negative social implications many persons affected by the disease experience on […]
Born in 1982, Mohan was afflicted with lameness from polio at the age of 2. After his diagnosis of leprosy, however, what slowed him down were not his physical difficulties, but the discrimination he faced from family, relatives, friends, and […]
Maksuda first met Lepra staff when she was diagnosed with leprosy and received treatment at a local clinic at Sirajganj, Bangladesh. At the time of her diagnosis, she was married; however, she returned to her father’s home with her daughter […]
Meet Ajay, aged 40, from Amroha, India. This is his story, told in his own words, to help raise awareness of stigma and discrimination this World Leprosy Day. “When I was only fifteen years old, leprosy changed my life. I […]
Neru was only eight when she discovered she had leprosy. Her mother had noticed patches on Neru’s body and Neru also complained of numbness in her right hand and right leg. As time went on this numbness worsened and her […]
ILEP releases interactive report on leprosy and stigma ahead of World Leprosy Day ILEP is shining a light on the invisible scars of stigma ahead of this year’s World Leprosy Day–themed around ending the stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy–with […]