LOGO
22 July 2019 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

The Partnership’s Mission to Nepal

On request of the Ministry of Health of Nepal, the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) and WHO’s Global Leprosy Programme conducted a two-week long country review in Nepal in July 2019. This review was conducted in close collaboration with the National Leprosy Program staff, local NGOs (including ILEP partners and organizations of persons affected), and WHO Nepal. The mission consisted of field visits and a stakeholder review meeting to take stock of the program’s current status and define key priorities for the program. Based on findings from the field visits and stakeholder review meeting, a Zero Leprosy roadmap for Nepal was developed by a broad range of stakeholders that set 2030 targets and interim milestones for 2022 and 2025. On 17th July these findings and milestones were presented to the Minister of Health and other senior officials of the ministry. These representatives from the ministry expressed appreciation for the review team and all participating partners for the clear results of the mission. Additionally, the ministers promised to set in motion the abolishment of the only remaining law in Nepal that discriminates against persons affected by leprosy.

Findings of this first country model approach will be presented on the 10th of September during the International Leprosy Congress in Manila. The GPZL wants to sincerely thank the Nepal team for hosting the review team. Their support was excellent and of great importance.

If you are a national programme manager and are interested in learning more about GPZL’s country model approach or requesting this support for your own country, please visit our Expression of Interest form.

A woman smiles while her hand is examined for signs of leprosy. Photo credit: Andie Tucker

GPZL’s Nepal Mission July 2019

Doctors speak with a young woman at a health post in southern Nepal, and check her hands for signs of visible disability. She was diagnosed with leprosy a few months ago and comes to the clinic once a month for a check-up and to receive medication to treat the disease.

A Nepalese health workers smiles and holds a pack of multi-drug therapy pills. Photo by Andie Tucker

GPZL’s Nepal Mission July 2019

Doctors consult a patient about his medication regimen in a health post in southern Nepal. Leprosy patients take an antibiotic course called Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) to cure the disease.

The Novartis MDT blister pack. Photo credit: Andie Tucker

GPZL’s Nepal Mission July 2019

Muti Drug Therapy (MDT) is made freely available to all leprosy patients around the world through a partnership between Novartis and the World Health Organization.

A doctor examines medical charts. Photo credit: Andie Tucker

GPZL’s Nepal Mission July 2019

A doctor reviews leprosy patient records at a health post in southern Nepal.

A doctor holds a flower petal up to a boy's face to check for sensitivity. Photo Credit: Andie Tucker

GPZL’s Nepal Mission July 2019

A young boy visits a health post in rural southern Nepal to have a skin patch tested. The boy’s older brother was recently diagnosed with leprosy and his mother is worried that he may have contracted the disease as well. The doctors test his skin patch for sensitivity, because low sensitivity could give the doctors reason to suspect that the boy has leprosy. No sensitivity problems are found and the doctors reassure his mother that he does not have leprosy.