The World Health Organization has (WHO) identified 22 priority countries including Bangladesh where action is needed as people affected by leprosy continue to suffer discrimination and lack of access to medical care.
Newly appointed UN human rights expert specialising in the disease Alice Cruz has warned about the situation, citing latest statistics that show over 200,000 new cases a year.
Leprosy remains a neglected disease, with the highest number of cases in India, Brazil and Indonesia.
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria and the Philippines are also among the WHO identified 22 priority countries where action is needed, according to a statement received from Geneva on Thursday.
Figures for 2016 show that 214,783 new cases of leprosy were reported, including 12,437 where people had suffered serious disabilities.
"This level of serious disability is alarming and completely unnecessary," said Special Rapporteur Alice Cruz, in a statement to mark World Leprosy Day that falls on January 28.
She said no one with leprosy needs to be left with disabilities and the disease can be easily cured with multidrug therapy if it is detected and treated early enough. "Left untreated, it can cause severe immunological reactions that lead to disability and chronic pain. -UNB
