The Maldives has met the requirements to be declared a leprosy-free country.
The Health Ministry announced on Monday that the internal and external verifications necessary for this declaration have been completed.
The ministry said at least 100 islands in the Maldives have achieved many of the goals set out in the Zero Leprosy Framework developed with the assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Discussions were held Sunday with WHO technical experts on how the verification process was conducted, the findings of the verification process, and the extent to which the framework goals have been accomplished. During the meeting, WHO experts also provided recommendations on the next steps.
After internal and external verification, 178 islands in the Maldives have qualified as leprosy-free islands.
The efforts to identify leprosy-free islands included training health workers to identify and treat leprosy, screening the population for the disease, and educating healthcare providers on how to manage leprosy cases while also promoting a shift in attitudes toward the disease.
Leprosy was a significant health concern in the Maldives until 1982, when the introduction of leprosy medicines and organized treatment dramatically reduced the number of cases. In 1997, the WHO declared leprosy no longer a public health threat, after which the Maldives government launched a national campaign to eradicate leprosy from the Maldives.
