19 November 2023, Baghdad, Iraq – In the remote district of Qaem, in western Iraq near the Syrian border, a family faced the challenge of leprosy – a neglected tropical disease that often goes unnoticed.

Malik (aged 42 years), his wife Huda (aged 39 years) and their 12-year-old daughter Sana* began to experience flat, red skin sores on their arms and legs. Over the course of a few months, the sores made their skin stiff and dry, leading to loss of sensation in the affected areas, which put the family at risk of injury.

As their condition worsened, the family realized the urgent need to seek medical attention, and visited the primary health care centre in Qaem city. After examining the family, the facility doctor decided to refer them to a tertiary-level hospital for proper diagnosis and management. But the family’s ordeal was far from over: the hospital had no stock of leprosy treatment available. This reflects leprosy’s status as a neglected tropical disease that is often overlooked.

Knowing the importance of quickly obtaining effective treatment for the family, the hospital management contacted the higher health authorities to explore options to acquire the treatment drugs. Given WHO’s commitment to global health, the Ministry of Health requested the assistance of the WHO Country Office in Iraq to procure the required leprosy medications for the patients.