KARACHI: The World Leprosy Day will be observed on January 24, 216 to raise raise awareness of a disease that many people believe to be extinct. Today it is not just the disease that is forgotten, but the people too. Everyday nearly 600 more people are diagnosed with and start treatment for leprosy.
In 2014, 213,899 people were diagnosed and it is estimated that millions more go undiagnosed. Leprosy is an infectious disease of the skin and nerves which, if not diagnosed and treated quickly, can result in debilitating disabilities. The effects of leprosy are exacerbated by the negative stigma surrounding the disease.