Dr. Jamela Al-Raiby, WHO Consultant to Jordan (left) and H.E Prof. Feras Ibrahim Hawari, Minister of Well being, Jordan (proper) – credit score WHO, launched.
It’s a illness that has been plaguing commoners and kings alike for millennia (in addition to armadillos), however for the primary time in historical past, a rustic has utterly eradicated leprosy.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has accomplished this wonderful achievement, and is the primary nation ever to be acknowledged as doing so by the WHO, whose Director-Normal, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, congratulated the nation for his or her diligent work on behalf of their citizenry.
Leprosy, also referred to as Hansen’s illness, is a persistent infectious illness attributable to Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily impacts the pores and skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the higher respiratory tract, and eyes. Left untreated, leprosy may cause everlasting harm to the pores and skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. Early analysis and remedy can forestall incapacity.
Leprosy is taken into account a uncared for tropical illness (NTD) that also happens in additional than 120 nations. Greater than 200,000 new instances are reported yearly.
It famously affected King Baldwin IV, the crusader monarch of Jerusalem from the eleventh century, who is alleged to have worn a masks and veil to cover his disfiguration from his topics.
“Leprosy has afflicted humanity for millennia, but country by country we are stopping transmission and freeing individuals, families, and communities from its suffering and stigma,” mentioned Dr. Ghebreyesus.
Jordan’s success in concentrating on transmission noticed the nation go with none reported autochthonous instances of leprosy for over twenty years, and after an intensive evaluation by the WHO investigation crew, it was awarded the excellence of being the primary to remove the illness completely.
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“Jordan’s elimination of leprosy is an achievement that will transform the discourse around this age-old, stigmatizing disease,” mentioned WHO Regional Director for the Jap Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy. “As the first country to achieve this target globally, Jordan stands as an inspiration to other countries, encouraging them to enhance their efforts and overcome barriers to achieve this remarkable feat.”
The announcement follows on the heels of Egypt’s recognition as being a malaria-free nation.
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