
1. Director, Anti-Leprosy Camphaign, Welisara, Ragama
Telephone +94 112958658
2. Central Leprosy Clinic,
Room No 12,
National Hospital of Sri Lanka,
Telephone: +94112696444
WhatsApp number : +94754088604
The message from the Director Anti-Leprosy Camphaign
While tremendous progress has been achieved in improving the public awareness and detecting more and more patients who are actively spreading the disease, sustained efforts with renewed vigour are required to make of a leprosy free Sri Lanka. It’s the key approach to early diagnosis and prompt and complete treatment of leprosy cases coupled with strengthening of Disability Prevention & Medical Rehabilitation besides reduction of stigma.
With the launching of LIFE Sri Lanka case detection was markedly improved all over the country.
I highly appreciate the hard work and quality output by all the officials of the campaign and other affiliated institutes.
Dr Prasad Ranaweera MBBS, MD
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a bacterium named Mycobacterium leprae. The disease mainly affects the skin and the peripheral nerves causing significant deformity if not treated early. Sri Lanka is one of the many Southeast Asian countries where the disease is still a significant public health challenge.
Upon inspecting the trends of the disease for the last 15 years, it was observed that the leprosy new case detection rates were fluctuating around 10 per 100,000 population in Sri Lanka. Grade 2 deformity rates which showed a downward trend from 2001 now seem to be fluctuating around 10.1 % (2015) indicating a late diagnosis of the disease. Child rates have been fluctuating around 10% from 2001 to 2014 and it was 11.3% in 2015 indicating ongoing transmission. But 15% of Leprosy cases among school children were found during 2022.
Things you should know about Leprosy (Contact , Central Leprosy clinic during working hours from Monday to Friday 7.30am to 4 pm, Saturday 8 am to 12 noon) Telephone 0112696444