The Ministry of Health has announced that the Maldives has been recognised as the first country to have achieved interruption of transmission of leprosy.
The award for preventing the spread of leprosy was presented to the Maldives at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Southeast Asia Regional Meeting in New Delhi, India. The award was handed over to Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem by the Regional Director of WHO for Southeast Asia Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh. The health ministry also extended congratulations to all healthcare personnel who worked tirelessly to ensure the nation's freedom from the debilitating disease.
The government launched the Zero Leprosy programme in 2019, with the aim of eliminating the disease by 2030. However, the programme was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maldives has officially become the first country in the world to eliminate leprosy following the successful completion of the project.
Leprosy is a contagious disease that affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes. The disease can be effectively treated with multi-drug therapy if diagnosed early. The disease can also occur at any age, from early childhood to old age.