REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Ministry of Health states that Indonesia has 16,856 new cases of leprosy in 2013. The record makes Indonesia as the third largest country with leprosy case in the world after India with 134,752 cases and Brazil with 33,303 cases.

Director of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, Sigit Priohutomo, said that about 17 countries suffering leprosy had discussed the matter in order to eliminate such disease. "The countries, including Indonesia, agree to set global target that in 2016-2020, the number of second degree disability from new case will be less than 1 per a million people in 2020," he said recently.

In Indonesia, about 3,01 per a million people suffer second degree disability in 2014. The number is decreasing from 2013, which is 6,82 per a million people.

Government is drafting a road map to eliminate leprosy in Indonesia. He said that government elevated early detection, gave quality health service, empowered former leprosy patients and cooperated with several stakeholders. "Our strategy is to decrease the number of disability caused by leprosy up to 35 percent in 2015," he said.

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