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As Head of Novartis Foundation, Dr. Ann Aerts has been a catalyst in the formation of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy and a key adviser. We spoke to her about the foundation’s contributions to innovations in the field of leprosy, and the steps needed to realize our goal of zero leprosy.

The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy hosted a webinar on 29 May, 2019 about the partnership’s country model.

Dr. Ibtissam Khoudri leads the leprosy program in Morocco’s Ministry of Health and is a chairperson for the Operational Excellence working sub-group 5. We spoke to her about Morocco’s success in reducing leprosy, the critical issues countries face in trying to get to zero leprosy, and how the partnership’s work can help.

A workshop on research partnerships, held during the Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI) annual meeting 4-5 April, yielded several innovative and exciting potential collaborations. After a comparison of the LRI and Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL) research agendas (both in the process of being finalized and very closely aligned), participants then broke into small groups to discuss how they might collaborate across institutions, disciplines and countries.

Dr. David Addiss has been an essential part of the formation of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy and a key advisor. We thank him for his counsel and contributions this month as he moves on to a new project at the Task Force for Global Health.

The beautiful island country of Maldives is featured this month. Maldives is making great progress towards ending leprosy, with only a small number of new cases per year. Read about the history of leprosy in Maldives, its many activities for treatment and surveillance, and its initiatives to support people with disabilities.

The formal report of the International Task Force on Disease Eradication (ITFDE) meeting on leprosy outlined six important conclusions and recommendations. Its recommendations are a stark reminder of how much is still unknown about the disease, and how much more needs to be done to develop the research, global targets, anti-discrimination initiatives, funding and other tactics necessary for Zero Leprosy. Secretariat Director Courtenay Dusenbury reflects on steps forward in the last year: a research agenda, strategies to work with countries, and partnerships.

The Research Agenda Working Group is nearing completion on its recommendations. It is hoped that the development of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy research agenda, through a broad and inclusive process, will help to align the leprosy community (and potential partners and donors) around key research needs and priorities for the future. Resource mobilization and support for the research agenda will be undertaken by the new Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Working Group as a key component of its efforts in 2019.

Courtenay Dusenbury, Secretariat Director, reflects on the first year of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy. With the guidance and commitment of the leadership team, the partnership has created a governance structure, developed a long-term strategy, and has launched two working groups.

Over the past several decades, great efforts have been made in ending leprosy worldwide. However, leprosy control in the South-East Asia Region remains a challenge. These countries are determined to overcome leprosy and its resulting complications. Every month we will be highlighting a new South East Asian country to show the steps they are taking to actively progress towards a leprosy-free world. This month we are looking at the country of Bangladesh.

Read the 2018 issue of The Star, radiating the light of truth on Hansen’s disease. The purpose of The Star is to: 1) Promote an educated public opinion of Hansen’s disease. 2.) Serve as advocate for those who have experienced … More The Star 2018 →