Kathmandu—Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has emphasized the need to make efforts to eliminate leprosy under the Healthy Nepal Campaign.

Addressing the inaugural session of the “Nepal Leprosy Conference” organized today by the Ministry of Health and Population along with various institutions, Prime Minister Oli stated that while the prevalence rate of leprosy in Nepal has improved — with fewer than one case per 10,000 people — the government will not be satisfied until the disease is fully eradicated.

Recalling how in the past people used to bless one another for good digestion, he said that with proper diet, lifestyle, and care, it is possible to stay healthy. He stressed that even if someone is diagnosed with a communicable disease like leprosy, proper and consistent treatment should be carried out as part of a broader awareness movement.

Prime Minister Oli also recalled how he was tortured during the Panchayat era, being kept on a cold floor in the Golghar prison, which he said contributed to the failure of his kidneys.

He expressed that discrimination against people affected by leprosy must end and mentioned the government will amend laws accordingly and facilitate preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease. He also urged the Ministry of Health and Population to raise awareness through mass communication and information technology, promoting the message that “disease should not be hidden.”