The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has helped create an international partnership of several leading leprosy groups. Sunday is World Leprosy Day.
Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the new Global Partnership for Zero LeprosyExternal link brings together organizations like the Swiss-based Novartis Foundation, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP), the International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement (IDEA), national leprosy programmes and academic institutions.
Peter Steinmann of Swiss TPH represents the scientific community in the creation of this partnership.
“Swiss TPH is actively involved in establishing the proof-of-concept of novel interventions against leprosy,” said Steinmann in a media releaseExternal link. “The new partnership offers a unique platform to harness the results of the best science for the benefit of the world’s poorest people.”
The Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy will coordinate action in three key areas: 1) diagnostic research and therapeutic tools to prevent spread of leprosy; 2) technical assistance and expertise to strengthen existing national programmes and accelerate translation of new evidence; and (3) advocacy and fundraising.
Despite the availability of effective multi-drug therapy, the number of newly diagnosed leprosy patients has remained above 200,000 per year for the last decade, including thousands of children, according to Swiss TPH. The institute blames inadequate resources and stigma.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
This content was published on
TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
This content was published on
The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
This content was published on
China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Most British red squirrels ‘have leprosy’
This content was published on
The disease, which was prevalent in the Middle Ages, has long been wiped out in humans in Britain. But it appears that red squirrels are still highly susceptible to the two types of bacteria, resulting in swelling and hair loss to the ears, muzzle and feet. Researchers from Lausanne’s Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) joined…
This content was published on
The team used advanced DNA analysis and field work to confirm the link to armadillos, the only other known carriers of the disease. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday. While there are only around 150 cases of leprosy in the US annually, most victims have worked abroad in…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.