India accounts for 53% of global leprosy cases, need for legal reforms: experts
India accounts for 53 percent of the global leprosy cases, experts revealed, urging the need for legal reforms to support individuals affected by the disease.
Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is an infectious illness caused by Mycobacterium leprae that leads to severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage, particularly in the arms, legs, and skin areas around the body.
“India accounts for 53 percent of the global leprosy cases. It is important to establish community-based rehabilitation to eliminate discrimination and support the affected individuals,” said Dr. S. Sivasubramaniam, Senior Scientist, during an event in the national capital.
Though leprosy is not highly contagious, it can spread through repeated contact with nose and mouth droplets from someone with untreated leprosy. However, experts pointed out that due to a lack of awareness, a significant stigma remains attached to the disease, urging the need to break these myths and advocate for the inclusion of affected individuals in mainstream society.
“Untouchability due to leprosy is worse than caste-based discrimination, as in the former even one’s own family members keep a distance from the affected individual,” said Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).
“Legal reforms are necessary, and vigilance must be kept ensuring early detection of cases,” he added, stressing the importance of rehabilitation measures after treatment.
The experts emphasized the need for collective efforts to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy.
“There are still 750 leprosy colonies in India that remain isolated from mainstream society,” said S. Govindaraj, Commissioner, CCPD.
“Out of more than 700 districts in India, 125 districts still report a significant number of leprosy cases. These districts are spread across 14 states, with Chhattisgarh having the highest number at 24 districts,” added Dr. Shivkumar, a leprosy expert.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India aims to achieve zero indigenous cases of leprosy by 2030. However, the government is targeting a Leprosy Mukt Bharat by 2027, three years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Experts stated that ignorance remains the biggest challenge in combating leprosy. They clarified that leprosy is one of the easiest diseases to cure if detected early and emphasized that it does not cause deformities or disabilities.
