22nd international leprosy congress 

The triennial 22nd International Leprosy Congress was held at the Nusa Dua Convention Centre, Bali, Indonesia, 7 - 9 July 2025. The congress brought together global experts (including WHO, UN, ILEP, GPZL), policymakers, health professionals, researchers, NGOs, and people affected by leprosy, to discuss progress in the field. ​The congress offered an excellent platform for engagement with partners, networking, knowledge sharing, and highlighting our impact. Key insights were gained in diagnostics, treatment, stigma reduction, and strategic planning, strengthening our role in the global movement to end leprosy

ILC fact sheet on SFLG

ILC fact sheet on TRACE

SFLG presented data from its successful Active Case-Finding programme and new cost-of-care data from nine countries. 

Good afternoon, my name is Katharine Jones. I’m the director of St Francis Leprosy Guild, a UK registered charity and NGO.  I am delighted to be presenting our data on Population-Based Active Case-Finding for leprosy. These data show the outcome of providing additional funding to five, leprosy-specific NGOs, from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan."

So what do we mean by Population-based Active Case-Finding? Our definition is: ACF that takes place in a defined area (where leprosy is suspected or known to be endemic) where our partners’ teams conduct door-to-door examinations of all residents. This approach is not the same as contact management where the household contacts, neighbours and friends of someone with leprosy are traced and examined. "

We have collaborated with five-leprosy-focused NGOS that already provide established leprosy services. This initiative examined whether additional, earmarked funding can support the identification of new cases of leprosy. Each project within our ACF progamme, focused on a target population where recent or suspected cases of leprosy were more likely to be found, such as communities with recently diagnosed individuals, disadvantaged groups, or hard-to-reach populations. The aim was to conduct screening among most or all members of these five specified populations, each selected due to a relatively higher incidence of leprosy."  

Pre-specified populations were identified that were suitable for door-to-door Active Case-Finding. We wanted to screen as many residents as possible. Our five partners each received $20,000 dollars annually for three years for (i.e $60,000 each) additional ACF capacity in addition to their current operations. Their existing capacity was expected to provide an expert examination of anyone suspected of having leprosy and confirmed with laboratory examination according to usual practice. The existing capacity was expected to treat new confirmed cases of leprosy and implement contact management and Single Dose Rifampicin according to usual practice."  

These were the results. 650,000 screenings (detailed examinations) were carried out. 2,000 people were suspected of having leprosy and subject to confirmatory processes. 479 new cases of leprosy were confirmed, that is 0.7 percent confirmed cases per thousand screenings. Each partner used leprosy experts to confirm diagnoses, oversee treatment using Multidrug Therapy and provide laboratory facilities where appropriate. Only two partners implemented population-based Active Case-Finding through door-to-door campaigns as per our definition earlier. One conducted enhanced contact management. One conducted a series of skin camps. One carried out combined “enhanced” contact management with skin camps. Each approach ascertained new confirmed cases (using door-to-door screening, enhanced contact management or skin camps).  

This slide shows a more detailed breakdown of the results. From left to right you can see a project number, the number of cases cared for in the past year and the areas where the five projects took place. You can see the numbers of people screened, the numbers of people suspected with leprosy and the number of new cases confirmed. (You can also see the number of new healthcare workers trained, that is 148 and 71 skin camps run.)"

There were various limitations to the findings in this programme. There was a wide range of partners involved. Each partner focused on a different target population. Variations of local leprosy occurrence were found and the progamme was not designed to measure the effectiveness or efficacy of different ACF techniques."

So what do we conclude? Modest, earmarked funding for ACF stimulated outreach activities by experienced partners. New cases of leprosy were detected at an average rate of least 0.7 cases per 1,000 individuals screened. What next?  We will continue the programme, with three partner NGOs. Allowing hybrid programmes (door to door and or skin camps – important to that exprienced local organisations have the resources to find new cases of leprosy when they search. Our next steps will be to invite three to four applicants to take part on the next phase of our Active Case-Finding Programme. Please let us know if you have any questions."

Download Abstract Book ILC 2025 page 79 
Jones K, Gill ON, John C. Population based active-case-finding for leprosy – outcome of providing additional funding to five experienced partner organisations in four countries. Research Project / RP0196. Page 79 Abstract book; International Leprosy Congress 2025

Cost of care data from nine countries

SFLG's Programmes Manager, Charlotte John presenting SFLG's e-poster

Download e-poster   
​​This e-poster showcased financial data from partners across nine countries, showing the average cost of care per person affected by leprosy is approximately $80 per year, though costs vary by setting and programme scale. These findings are valuable for improving budget planning and cost-efficiency in leprosy programmes.

Download Abstract Book ILC 2025 page 420
John C, Gill ON, Jones K. The current annual cost of providing health care to a person affected by leprosy – a crude estimate from 28 leprosy focused organisations in 12 countries. Research Project / RP0195. Page 420 Abstract book; International Leprosy Congress 2025 

SFLG's Programmes Manager, Charlotte John meeting staff from LCU Pushpa Hospital.

Accomplished photographer of people affected by leprosy, Tom Bradley, curated an exhibition of recent photos at the 22nd ILC.