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.

GPZL’s three COVID-19 response working groups are:

  • Chronicling and providing support for the urgent needs of National Leprosy Programmes, particularly for access to MDT and follow-up care.
  • Advocating for access to comprehensive healthcare, social protection services and humanitarian measures for persons affected by leprosy or Hansen’s Disease, and their families.
  • Preparing GPZL for the post-pandemic global health landscape.

This webpage will share information about the progress of these working groups, as well as other guidance, news, and useful information from our partners.

Advice about leprosy and COVID-19:

Advice about leprosy and COVID-19 from the WHO Global Leprosy Programme, ILEP, UN Special Rapporteur Alice Cruz, and the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy. Includes guidance on diagnosis and clinical management of leprosy patients, public health aspects of leprosy in the COVID-19 pandemic, and services for persons living with disabilities and/or psychosocial consequences of leprosy.

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Working Groups:

Working Group 1: Leprosy Emergency Operations Committee chaired by Ms. Arielle Cavaliero (Novartis) and Dr. Benedict Quao (Leprosy Program Manager, Ghana), and will include WHO’s Global Leprosy Program and others working directly in the supply chain for multi-drug therapy (MDT). This group is addressing and resolving issues in the supply of drugs for the treatment of leprosy and leprosy reactions, and other forms of care such as wound care, disability care, and social care, and supporting the work of National Leprosy Programmes.

Working Group 2: Emergency Advocacy for Persons Affected chaired by Dr. Alice Cruz (U.N. Rapporteur for Persons Affected and their Families) and Mr. Amar Timulsina (President of IDEA Nepal) is spearheading a global advocacy campaign so that no patients are left behind. This group is working with persons affected to gather information on their needs during the pandemic and share information about government and NGO responses to those needs.

Working Group 3: Post COVID-19 chaired by Mr. Geoff Warne (ILEP CEO) and Dr. Takahiro Nanri (Executive Director, Sasakawa Health Foundation), is thinking critically about future health scenarios and developing a path forward for the leprosy community in a post-COVID world.

For more information about these working groups, or for questions about GPZL’s COVID-19 strategy, please contact us.

GPZL COVID-19 Resources

 

Challenges and a Path Forward for Leprosy during COVID-19: Working Group 1 Report

GPZL’s Working Group 1, the Leprosy Emergency Operations Committee (LEOC), works to address and resolve issues in the supply of drugs for the treatment of leprosy and leprosy reactions, and other forms of care such as wound care, disability care, … More Challenges and a Path Forward for Leprosy during COVID-19: Working Group 1 Report →

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The COVID-19 Crisis and Persons Affected by Leprosy Fact Sheet

Persons affected by leprosy have been especially impacted by the worst consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and organizations of persons affected by leprosy have enacted policies and programmes intended to support persons affected during this crisis, although there are still gaps. The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy COVID-19 Emergency Response Working Group 2 and UN Special Rapporteur Alice Cruz, gathered data from 100+ persons affected and partners, representing 24 countries on available programmes and resources offering support to persons affected during this time. This fact sheet highlights some of the measures taken by governments and NGOs in the represented countries, and underscores the need for increased support.

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Updated: 11/06/2020
 

Persons Affected by Leprosy and the COVID-19 Global Health Crisis: Working Group 2 Consultative Calls Report

Emergency Response Working Group 2: Emergency Advocacy for Persons Affected, has conducted consultative calls with individual persons affected and persons affected organizations to gather information about the challenges facing persons affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report details these challenges and concerns, and offers recommendations of specific actions NGO and government leaders can take to address the needs and challenges of persons affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ENG POR
Updated: 11/06/2020
 

Open letter from UN Special Rapporteur on COVID-19 and leprosy

Open letter on COVID-19 and leprosy to the UN Member States from UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Alice Cruz. 

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Updated: 10/04/2020
 

Advice about leprosy and COVID-19

Advice about leprosy and COVID-19 from the WHO Global Leprosy Programme, ILEP, UN Special Rapporteur Alice Cruz, and GPZL. Includes guidance on diagnosis and clinical management of leprosy patients, public health aspects of leprosy in the COVID-19 pandemic, and services for persons living with disabilities and/or psychosocial consequences of leprosy.

ENG FR
Updated: 10/04/2020

COVID-19 News

Sasakawa Health Foundation Nepal

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

24 September, 2020 | Sasakawa Health Foundation

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

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Nepali woman receives skin exam

The COVID-19 Crisis and Persons Affected by Leprosy: Questionnaire Results

9 September, 2020 | Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

The economic, social, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a significant increase in the need for humanitarian aid and social protection measures. Persons affected by leprosy have been especially impacted by the worst consequences of the pandemic, due to preexisting vulnerabilities and economic precarity.

Governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and organizations of persons affected by leprosy have enacted policies and programmes intended to support persons affected during this crisis, although there are still gaps. To support the effectiveness of these interventions, and to help raise awareness of resources available to persons affected, the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy’s COVID-19 Emergency Advocacy Working Group and UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members Alice Cruz, gathered data on available programmes and resources. The following information was gathered through an online questionnaire from 100+ persons affected and partners, representing 24 countries.

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Working with Programs

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

11 August, 2020 | Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

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.

Read Article >
Novartis Multi-drug therapy manufacturing

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

6 August, 2020 | Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

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

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Working with Programs

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

16 June, 2020 | Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

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.

Read Article >
Working with Programs

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

12 May, 2020 | Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

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.

Read Article >
Multi-drug therapy

GPZL’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan for 2020

14 April, 2020 | Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

With the COVID-19 pandemic raging in some countries and just beginning to be felt in others, GPZL’s Leadership Team has identified the leprosy community’s key challenges and outlined an emergency response plan for 2020. This plan will ensure that the GPZL’s substantial expertise and network is focused on the urgent situation being faced by National Leprosy Programmes and persons affected by the disease, and their families.

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