VATICAN CITY, Jan 30 (AFP) - Pope John Paul II called on Sunday for a global effort to eradicate leprosy, which continues to afflict half a million people every year, on the occasion of the 52nd world leprosy day.
"This disease, though curable, continues to blight millions of people in the poorest parts of the world, including many children," said the 84-year-old pontiff.
"I hope that the commitment of the international community will help to completely eliminate this scourge on society," he added.
Figures revealed on Sunday showed that in 2003 there were about 515,000 cases of the disease, which if there is a delay in diagnosis can leave victims permanently scarred and often horribly disfigured, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The WHO had pledged to work to eradicate leprosy in the year 2000, and then re-launched its target for 2005.
However, at the end of 2003, leprosy remained a public health issue in 15 African countries including Madagascar, Tanzania, Mozambique, as well as India and Nepal, and Brazil where one in 10,000 people suffered from the disease.
01/30/2005 15:15 GMT - AFP