Leprosy experts gather in Aberdeen

More than 50 international experts in one of the world’s oldest diseases, which still affects around 400,000 new sufferers each year, are gathering today (April 18)in Aberdeen for a major conference.

The Global Forum on Leprosy Control, which is taking place at the University of Aberdeen, will set operational guidelines for programme managers over the next five years.

Top officials from the World Health Organization, together with key partners who are responsible for the control of the disease in areas of Asia, South America and Africa, where the disease is still prevalent, are involved in the forum.

Professor C Duncan Rice, the Principal of the University of Aberdeen, was opening the three-day forum, which is taking place at the Linklater Rooms from April 18 to 20. He said: “It is a tremendous honour for the University of Aberdeen to be hosting this Global Forum on Leprosy Control which is such an important event.

“The University prides itself on its expertise in international health and researchers here have made great strides in helping the fight against this disease which is curable yet still affects so many.”

Professor Cairns Smith, Head of the University’s Department of Public Health, has organised the conference for the World Health Organisation, which is working towards sustaining leprosy control activities and is the chair of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Leprosy Control.

Professor Smith, who has been carrying out leading research into leprosy for the last decade, which has contributed to improvements in the management of patients and the development of global strategies and policies on disease, said: “Our research has focused on reducing the transmission or leprosy and on preventing nerve damage as result of leprosy – this Forum in Aberdeen represents the process of getting research into policy and practice at a global level”.

Those attending the Forum include representatives from the International Leprosy Association, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations and national programme managers from leprosy endemic countries.

The outcome of the forum will be the development of international operational guidelines for the Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Leprosy Burden and Sustaining Leprosy Control Activities 2006-2010.