1 February 2021 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

Call for Nominations: Scientific Research Representative for GPZL Leadership Team

The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) is seeking nominations for a representative of the scientific community to serve a two-year term, renewable once, on its Leadership Team. The term will begin on 1 April 2021. Leadership team members are asked to attend two meetings … Read More >

29 January 2021 · Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative

“Right to Work” Is Theme of 16th Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy

TOKYO/BRUSSELS, January 28, 2021 – The 16th Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy will be launched in an online ceremony on January 31, 2021, World Leprosy Day. Organized by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, this year’s appeal is endorsed by the International … Read More >

29 January 2021 · Novartis

Novartis renews WHO medicine donation pledge with aim of ending leprosy

Basel, January 29, 2021 — A renewed partnership agreement signed by Novartis and the World Health Organization (WHO) will drive the global push towards making leprosy history. The five-year extension of the partnership – which was first signed in 2000 – will see Novartis continue to … Read More >

6 January 2021 · ILEP Technical Commission

Interim advice on the use of rifampicin for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

Interim advice on the use of rifampicin for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), in light of recent  information on nitrosamine impurities in rifampicin  A number of different problems have affected the supply of rifampicin and MDT to countries this year. The most recent of these has been … Read More >

14 December 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

Women affected by leprosy speak out about COVID-19 challenges

Women affected by leprosy share concerns of the community of persons affected during the COVID-19 pandemic in a video, recently released by GPZL. By learning from these women affected by leprosy, the NTD community can strengthen strategies to reach zero discrimination, zero stigma, and zero disability for persons affected by leprosy and other NTDs worldwide. And by looking to the experts on the ground, including those who have experienced NTDs, NGOs and governments can better fill in the gaps in COVID-19 response.

10 December 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

The Partnership’s Mission to Ghana

In late November the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy conducted its country review of Ghana. The review was requested by the Ghanaian National Leprosy Programme, headed by Dr Benedict Quao. The objective of the country review was to take stock of the programme’s current status … Read More >

9 December 2020 · Alice Cruz

Call for Contributions from Persons Affected by Hansen’s Disease for Report to Human Rights Council

The Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by Hansen’s disease and their family members, Alice Cruz, is preparing a report due to be presented at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2021. This report addresses the disproportionate … Read More >

9 December 2020 · World Health Organization

WHO Report on Global Leprosy Consultation 2020

The World Health Organization organized a Consultation of National Leprosy Programme managers, partners and affected persons to discuss the draft Global Leprosy Strategy, 2021–2030. This virtual event took place from 26 to 30 October 2020. It was attended by more than 450 stakeholders. Contributions were … Read More >

2 December 2020 · Leprosy Research Initiative

Leprosy Research Initiative Call for Proposals: Budget Round 2022

The Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for funding commencing in 2022. LRI funds research with a focus on leprosy – including research applications combining leprosy with other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) or other diseases that share cross-cutting issues … Read More >

12 November 2020 · World Health Organization

Neglected Tropical Diseases: World Health Assembly endorses bold new road map targets for 2030

12 November 2020 — Today, delegates attending the virtual session of the Seventy-third World Health Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the new road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) for 2021−2030. Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases … Read More >

6 November 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

SDR-PEP Webinar Series: The Role of Persons Affected in SDR-PEP Implementation

Learn about SDR-PEP, why is it needed, and the role of persons affected by leprosy in successful SDR-PEP implementation. Hear from Alice Cruz, Amar Timalsina, and the WHO Global Leprosy Programme.

4 November 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

A Prioritized Zero Leprosy Research Agenda

The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) presented the prioritised Zero Leprosy Research Agenda at the WHO Global Consultation on Global Leprosy Strategy 2021 – 2030 last week. In 2018, the Research Agenda working group’s eight different sub-groups conducted a series of discussions on research … Read More >

4 November 2020 · Sasakawa Health Foundation

Sasakawa Health Foundation Announces Grant Recipients: Organizations of Persons Affected by Leprosy During COVID-19

TOKYO, Oct. 29, 2020 — Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative will launch a US$340,000 grant program on November 1 to support communities of persons affected by leprosy around the world that have been hard hit by the effects of the novel coronavirus. Through the program, … Read More >

2 November 2020 · Novartis International AG

Contact tracing with prophylactic treatment could near-eliminate leprosy in a single generation, new research suggests

Results from the Novartis Foundation-initiated Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) program covered more than 150,000 people across seven countries Post-exposure prophylaxis with a single dose of the antibiotic rifampicin is safe, can be integrated into different leprosy control programs, and is generally well accepted by patients, … Read More >

24 September 2020 · Sasakawa Health Foundation

Grant Program for Organizations of Persons Affected by Leprosy/Hansen’s Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sasakawa Health Foundation with support from The Nippon Foundation is implementing a grant program for organizations of persons affected by leprosy/Hansen’s disease to support people who have been severely impacted by the unprecedented crisis caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus and the social … Read More >

15 September 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

Bill Gallo Joins GPZL as Secretariat Director

Bill Gallo joins the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) this month as Secretariat Director. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge in global health and diverse experiences in policy and programme management. He is excited to take on this leadership role following 33 … Read More >

28 August 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

ILEP Technical Commission and Advisory Panels accepting nominations

The ILEP Technical Commission and the ILEP Advisory Panel both come up for re-appointment in October. The two groups work closely with one another to coordinate guidance at ILEP Federation. The ILEP Technical Commission includes experts covering a range of areas of leprosy expertise related … Read More >

14 August 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

Open letter to Laois City Councilor Willie Aird, organized by a global network of persons affected by leprosy

An open letter to Laois City Councilor Willie Aird, written by a global network of persons affected by leprosy, in response to his recent public comments. 

11 August 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

GPZL’s COVID-19 Working Groups: August 2020 Update

The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly impacted leprosy control and prevention, and in response, GPZL has established three working groups to address the leprosy community’s key challenges during the global health crisis, and spearhead emergency response. This article is an update on their progress.

6 August 2020 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

Novartis Kalwe Site Associates Live On-Site during COVID-19 Lockdown to Maintain Multi-Drug Therapy Supply Chain for WHO Donation Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has halted many leprosy control and prevention activities globally, putting vulnerable communities further at risk. The Novartis Technical Operations (NTO) Sandoz Kalwe site, located north of Mumbai on India’s west coast, faced new challenges beginning earlier this year, when strict lockdown was … Read More >