Consultation workshop held to develop National Leprosy Strategic Plan for 2026–2030

Kathmandu, Bagmati province -  The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), in collaboration with WHO Country Office for Nepal and with support from the Sasakawa Health Foundation, conducted a three-day stakeholder consultation workshop from 7-9 December to develop the new National Leprosy Strategic Plan for 2026–2030. The workshop brought together over 80 participants, including representatives from MoHP, EDCD, provincial, district and municipal health offices, programme focal persons, persons affected by leprosy and partner organizations. Representatives from the Sasakawa Health Foundation, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office and the Global Leprosy Programme (via a virtual session) also participated in the workshop. Participants reviewed Nepal’s leprosy epidemiological situation, assessed progress and identified gaps of the four strategic pillars of the current strategy. They jointly discussed the goals, objectives, targets and priority interventions which will serve as a foundation for the development of the new national strategic plan, aiming at achieving the elimination of leprosy as an interruption of transmission. The workshop strengthened stakeholder engagement and consensus, ensuring national ownership and laying a solid foundation for drafting the first version of the plan.