Ivan Richard
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - Data from the Ministry of Health show that in 2004 there were 30,000 new cases of leprosy in Brazil. That works out to 1.7 cases per 10,000 inhabitants, which is higher than the recommended control level established by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is "less than one case per 10,000 inhabitants."

Yesterday the first workshop for hospital workers and managers who deal with leprosy (I Oficina de Trabalho de Gestores dos Antigos Hospitais-Colônia de Hanseníase) opened in Brasilia. At the close of the workshop today, the participants will release a list of 126 proposals for improving the quality of life for people with leprosy.

The Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva administration has announced that it intends to reach the WHO standard for leprosy by the end of this year (one case per 10,000 inhabitants) and has earmarked US$5.45 million (R$13.2 million) for the effort.

Translator: Allen Bennett