BALI, Indonesia, July 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 700 participants from 23 countries and various international organizations gathered in Indonesia's Bali for the 22nd International Leprosy Congress (ILC) from Monday to Wednesday.
Carrying the theme "Towards a World with Zero Leprosy," the meeting highlights the importance of accelerating leprosy elimination efforts through global cross-country collaboration.
"The theme is an urgent call to action to end the disease, disability, stigma, and discrimination," said Saima Wazed, World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for the Southeast Asia region as well as head of the WHO Global Leprosy Program, during the opening ceremony on Monday.
Saima added that WHO prioritizes strengthening surveillance systems, increasing community engagement, including that of persons affected by leprosy, and enhancing the capacity of local health workers.
The organization also called for broader partnerships with governments, researchers, civil society, and persons affected to make a leprosy-free world a reality without leaving anyone behind.
WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa said that leprosy is a curable disease if detected and treated early, yet nearly 200,000 new cases are still reported each year, with many hidden cases going unrecorded.
Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that as the world's third-highest leprosy-burden country after India and Brazil, Indonesia underscores its commitment through political support, implementing screening programs, and providing therapies to reduce case numbers.
Held every three years, the ILC is a major global gathering of researchers, program leaders, policymakers, and advocates working to end leprosy and its consequences. It offers a vital platform for sharing the latest insights, evidence, and best practices from across the leprosy and global health sectors. ■
