As per the reports, the number of leprosy cases have definitely reduced worldwide, but as per a detailed survey made, it has been estimated that two lakh cases continue to be reported every year and India accounts for more than half, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia asserted, "Leprosy-related discrimination, stigma and prejudice are the most powerful barriers to ending leprosy for good, especially given the disease is 100 per cent curable when detected early.”
As per the information provided by the WHO, apart from India, several leprosy cases have been detected in the Southeast Asia region, Brazil, sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific.
Singh also informed, “Though leprosy is often equated with serious deformity and disability, the percentage of patients having these symptoms is down to six per cent, demonstrating the disease is being diagnosed earlier than even.”
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