Mauritania nears zero leprosy cases amid sustained health efforts

Mauritania is making significant progress toward eliminating leprosy, with cases dropping from 42 in 2010 to just 17 in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The decline is attributed to early detection, treatment, and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing stigma.

Health officials emphasize the importance of early screening in at-risk communities, ensuring prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. “A patient under treatment is no longer contagious,” says Dr. Salma Yahya, a dermatologist at Nouakchott’s National Hospital Centre. Treatment completion rates reached over 90% in 2023.

WHO continues to support training health workers, providing medicines, and conducting contact tracing to curb transmission. Mauritania has integrated leprosy into its broader neglected tropical diseases (NTD) program, ensuring long-term monitoring and post-treatment care. Efforts to combat stigma remain crucial, as misconceptions persist. Authorities aim for complete leprosy elimination, reinforcing Mauritania’s public health success story.