The World Leprosy Day is internationally observed on the last Sunday of January, and this year, it fell yesterday (29). 

While various programmes were held throughout the world in commemoration of this day, Sri Lanka’s discourse on leprosy revealed an alarming situation, i.e. 10% of leprosy patients in Sri Lanka are children. Media cited Colombo District Director of Health Services Specialist Dr. Chandana Gajanayake, as saying that approximately 2,000 leprosy patients are reported in Sri Lanka every year. Noting that a public awareness programme had been organised to commemorate this day, he expressed concerns that due to symptoms appearing rather insignificant for a long time, many people tend to ignore this disease.

Needless to say, these figures are alarming, especially for a small country like Sri Lanka, and they certainly call for more steps against the increase in leprosy in the country. We must also not forget that in many cases, real-life figures are less than what is being reported officially. The present state of the country’s health sector, which has been severely affected by the economic crisis, is another major reason for the said situation to receive more attention.

Leprosy is treatable, but it is also preventable. That is what the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends. This year’s theme is “Act Now. End Leprosy”, and calls attention to three key messages. They are “Elimination is possible: We have the power and tools to stop transmission and defeat this disease”; “Act now: We need the resources and commitment to end leprosy. Prioritise leprosy elimination”; and “Reach the unreached: Leprosy is preventable and treatable. Suffering from leprosy is needless”.

In Sri Lanka’s case, one of the most important aspects of leprosy prevention is awareness raising. As was pointed out above, people’s tendency to ignore the symptoms of leprosy for a long period of time is a challenge faced by the ongoing efforts against the spread of this disease. Raising awareness on early detection of the disease, the nature of symptoms, and the steps that could be taken to minimise the impacts of the disease, therefore, should receive more attention. Aside from the lack of awareness, the massive stigma surrounding leprosy patients and the disease itself is another major challenge that slows down efforts against leprosy.

Addressing these two issues is a must in order to deal with the above-mentioned risk. On the one hand, stigma and lack of awareness discourage patients from seeking medical assistance promptly and openly, and on the other hand, it makes grassroots-level anti-leprosy campaigns more difficult to implement, as health authorities do not receive adequate public support and engagement. The fact that children in Sri Lanka are facing a considerable level of risk of contracting leprosy should be the beginning of more efforts targeting children, parents, and school teachers. The more aware children and those around children are, the more chance Sri Lanka has of reducing the said risk.

Prevention and early detection are key. Promoting those two aspects is the duty of not only health authorities but also the media and social activists. Genuine, collective endeavours could change the above-mentioned situation for the better.