February 21, Colombo (LNW): In a significant development, a dedicated medical team from the World Health Organization (WHO), specializing in leprosy, is set to visit Sri Lanka in March. The Anti-Leprosy Campaign (ALC) revealed that the WHO will collaborate with local health authorities to devise a strategic roadmap for the elimination of leprosy from Sri Lanka within the next decade.
Dr. Prasan Ranaweera, Director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign, highlighted the noticeable increase in the number of leprosy patients in Sri Lanka. In response to this concern, the ALC has already launched a comprehensive program to eradicate leprosy from the country. Dr. Ranaweera further disclosed that the WHO, recognizing the urgency of the situation, will dispatch a team of specialist doctors in March to contribute to the initiative. Their primary objective will be to formulate a detailed plan outlining the steps necessary to eliminate leprosy within the next 10 years.