Neglect of mental health issues and lack of integration of psychosocial interventions in Zero Leprosy Roadmaps: A critical oversight

Abstract

Leprosy is a poverty-related, infectious neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae [1]. It is, one of the oldest known diseases with ancient writings dating back to 2000 BC describing those affected by leprosy, which can cause severe irreversible disabilities if not detected and treated early [2]. Global initiatives led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate leprosy have made remarkable progress, reducing the disease’s prevalence to historically low levels, yet it still occurs in many low- and middle-income countries of the world, despite a steadily declining incidence of new cases globally [3]. The elimination efforts have predominantly focused on the biomedical aspects of leprosy, including early detection, multidrug therapy (MDT), prevention of physical disabilities, and more recently, disease prevention through the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with single-dose rifampicin (SDR) [4]. While these are undeniably crucial components of any leprosy control strategy, the neglect of mental health issues and the lack of integration of psychosocial interventions in WHO recommended country owned Zero Leprosy Roadmaps represent a significant gap that must be addressed to achieve truly comprehensive care for persons affected by leprosy.