Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation

Background: Although leprosy ceased to be a global public health problem in 2000, some countries are still reporting new cases. Aim: To evaluate progress towards the interruption of leprosy transmission, and its elimination, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Methods: We extracted and analysed leprosy data for 2012–2023 for the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries from the WHO Global Health Observatory. We calculated the new case detection rates, the Grade 2 disabilities case rates and the new child cases per million population. Results: New case detection rate increased from 3.7 per million population in 2012 to 6.0 in 2018 and then decreased to 3.6 in 2023. Among children aged < 15 years, new case detection rate increased from 0.6 cases per million in 2012 to 1.3 in 2017 and then decreased to 0.5 in 2023. The proportion of females among new cases increased from 34.4% in 2012 to 42.0% in 2023. Grade 2 disability rate decreased from 0.5 cases per million population in 2012 to 0.3 in 2023. By 2023, Egypt, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen accounted for 94% of cases. Thirteen countries reported 0–10 new autochthonous cases annually. The proportion of non-autochthonous cases increased from 3.4% in 2016 to 4.2% in 2023. Conclusion: Some Eastern Mediterranean Region countries are progressing towards the elimination of leprosy. The decrease in leprosy cases among children in the region indicates a reduction in active transmission. Continuous investment by all the countries will enhance early diagnosis and detection, ensure effective disease management and promote social inclusion as outlined by the WHO global leprosy strategy.

Prof. Morizo Ishidate synthesized "Promin" for the treatment of leprosy/Hansen's disease which had been considered "incurable" until the discovery of antileprosy effect of that drug by Dr. Faget of U.S.A. in 1941. Prof. Ishidate was the first to synthesize the drug in Japan in 1946 based on a brief news item on a Swiss journal smuggled in during the War. For this achievement, he is known as "father of chemotherapy for leprosy in Japan." Prof. Ishidate also contributed to the global fight against leprosy as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation, which he helped to establish in May 1974, with a full financial backing of Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, President of Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation. Prof. Ishidate, with his scientific knowledge as well as christianity based humanitarian concern, advised Mr. Sasakawa how to spend JSIF money wisely for eliminating leprosy and nearly US$200 million was channeled through WHO and SMHF. The successful outcome of global multidrug therapy (MDT) programme in the '80s resulted in the adoptation of resolution by the World Health Assembly, "Elimination of Leprosy, as a public health problem" by the Year 2000. The synthesis of "Promin" in Japan and promoting the global implementation of MDT, both achievement can be attributed to Prof. Ishidate.