jordan becomes first country certified as leprosy-free by who
2024-09-20
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xinhua news agency, geneva, september 19 (xinhua) -- jordan has become the first country in the world to be certified as having eliminated leprosy, the world health organization's official website announced on september 19. this important milestone marks a new era in global public health.
jordan has not reported any indigenous cases of leprosy in more than 20 years, who said, demonstrating the country's strong political commitment and effective public health strategy to eliminate the disease. who commissioned an independent panel to assess the situation. after an extensive review, the verification team recommended that who certify jordan as leprosy-free.
who director-general tedros adhanom ghebreyesus said who congratulates jordan on achieving this impressive milestone. "leprosy has afflicted humanity for thousands of years, but country by country we are stopping transmission and freeing individuals, families and communities from the pain and stigma of leprosy."
hanan barehi, who regional director for the eastern mediterranean, noted that jordan's elimination of leprosy is an achievement that will change people's perception of this ancient stigmatized disease. as the first country in the world to achieve this goal, jordan serves as an inspiration to other countries, encouraging them to work further towards this goal and overcome obstacles.
although jordan has successfully eliminated leprosy, both who and the country's ministry of health have stressed the importance of maintaining a strong surveillance system to detect and manage potential future cases without discrimination.
leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that seriously endangers human health. if it is not detected and treated in time, it can cause local skin damage, and in severe cases, it can even cause blindness, facial deformity, and limb disability. according to the who website, leprosy is a "neglected tropical disease" that still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than 200,000 new cases reported each year.
