Leprosy remains a significant health problem in Nepal – a population where the majority are subsistence farmers, the prevalence rate is 2.4 cases per 10,000 population (WHO 2003), well above the World Health Organisation elimination target.  Poverty, the stigma of leprosy and poor access to healthcare all contribute to the high rate of leprosy.

The Leprosy Mission's work in Nepal

Training
TLM has been working in partnership with the Nepali government since 1957 providing specialist leprosy care at Anandaban Hospital, and training healthcare workers through the Central Region Technical Support Centre. Both projects are based in the Lalitpur district, south of Kathmandu.

Andandaban Hospital
Anandaban serves as a leprosy referral hospital as well as providing general medical care and has a 118 bed inpatient capacity.

Research
The hospital has a dynamic leprosy research facility working at the frontline of leprosy research. Developments include new skin test antigens for improved diagnosis of leprosy and work on a new leprosy vaccine.