World Leprosy Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of January (29 th January 2023) to increase public awareness and end leprosy-related stigma and discrimination. The theme for this year: “ Act Now. End Leprosy .” Before COVID-19, around 200,000 people were diagnosed with leprosy each year. But this number of diagnoses has fallen by 30% due to disruptions in leprosy programs during the pandemic. Furthermore, millions of people, particularly across Asia, Africa, and South America, have started living with leprosy-related disabilities.
An early diagnosis and a complete treatment regimen with multidrug therapy (MDT) are the key strategies for reducing the global burden of leprosy. Here's an infographic discussing the treatment regimen of patients with multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy! Is MDT beneficial for the treatment of leprosy? Reference: WHO
