Bangladesh scraps leprosy stigma act

Full Story: BBC Asia 25 Nov

Bangladesh has abolished a century-old act which confined leprosy patients to state-run institutions. The 1898 Lepers Act was passed at a time the authorities believed leprosy was highly contagious.

BBC correspondents report that lepers currently face arrest and a fine if they venture out of their care centres. There are an estimated 40,000 leprosy patients in the country.

Posted in: Bangladesh, Health, Leprosy