As we commemorate World Leprosy Day on January 25, 2026, I am reflecting on the fact that this year marks the 25th anniversary of my appointment as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
Over the past quarter-century, I have traveled to over 100 countries, listening to the voices of those affected by the disease and dedicating my efforts to realizing a world without leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease.
The adoption of multidrug therapy, the drug regimen recommended by the WHO in 1981, has transformed the treatment of leprosy. Since the mid-1980s, when there were more than 5 million cases of the disease, there has been a significant decline in numbers. In 2024, 172,717 cases were reported by 133 countries.
However, of these cases, 5.4% were children under 15 and 5.3% were grade 2 disability cases, meaning they had visible impairments. Together, they indicate ongoing transmission within the community and delayed diagnosis. In other words, despite the fall in case numbers over the years, they show that we have not solved all the challenges that leprosy poses.
One of the most stubborn challenges that I encounter on my travels is the social stigma attached to leprosy, which can be more problematic than the disease itself, and which can persist beyond the end of treatment. This is particularly true for people who have been left with residual disabilities as a result of leprosy. They may face various forms of discrimination, including forced divorce, lost educational opportunities and unfair dismissal. Even after being cured, they endure the unending pain of social exclusion.
I sometimes wonder if discrimination in human society originated from a fear of leprosy. One of the oldest known infectious diseases, leprosy is mentioned in the Bible and other ancient texts. Prejudices that have built up over more than 2,000 years are still deeply ingrained.
In 2010, the international community clearly defined leprosy as a human rights issue in an attempt to address this. The unanimous passing of the UN General Assembly resolution to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their families was a historic step forward. However, I am concerned that interest in this issue among nations has waned in recent years.
Progress against leprosy cannot be measured solely by case numbers. Those affected by the disease tend to be among the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society, susceptible to poverty and increasingly to the effects of climate change. This is a problem of inequality and structural discrimination. To realize the Sustainable Development Goals' vision of a society that leaves no one behind, we must engage with these issues and these people above all else.
