The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates an Arab nation- Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan situated on the east bank of the Jordan River for becoming the first country in the world to be officially verified as having eliminated leprosy. This significant milestone marks a new era in global public health efforts.
“WHO congratulates Jordan on this impressive milestone,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Jordan’s elimination of this age-old disease is a historic milestone in public health and a huge success for efforts to eliminate leprosy globally,” said Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia who heads WHO’s Global Leprosy Program.
Jordan has not reported any autochthonous cases of leprosy for over two decades, a testament to its strong political commitment and effective public health strategies to eliminate the disease.
Jordan’s success sets a worldwide precedent, showcasing what can be achieved with strong political commitment, dedication, collaboration and strategic planning.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries.
More than 200 000 new cases are reported every year.
As per the reports, WHO will host the Third Annual Gathering of the Heads of State and Government for the prevention and control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) on 24 September to catalyze commitment at the highest levels of Government, and bolster engagement by partners ahead of the UNGA high-level meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in 2025.
Meanwhile, the WHO and partners will call on world leaders to address critical global health challenges, and invest in global public health, at meetings throughout the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), to be held in New York from 20 to 30 September 2024.
The second High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) on 26 September 2024 will be the principal official, health-focused event during the UNGA high-level week. The first UN High-level Meeting on AMR took place in 2016.
Also, the Summit of the Future will take place on 22 and 23 September.
The summit will bring together world leaders to forge a new international consensus on how to deliver better in the present, including ensuring global decision making is guided by science, achieving the SDGs and safeguarding the future.
During the Summit, Heads of State and high-ranking government officials are expected to endorse the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.
