Leading leprologist Noordeen no more, WHO mourns loss

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 28

The World Health Organisation (WHO) today mourned the loss of legendary Indian leprologist Dr Shaik Khader Noordeen (88) who led the global fight against leprosy during its most critical years and oversaw the roll out of multi-drug therapy, the mainstay of leprosy treatment to date.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led the condolences for the pioneer in leprosy research and said, “Saddened by the loss of Dr SK Noordeen, a key contributor to WHO leprosy elimination strategy. He coordinated WHO’s leprosy research from 1979-1984, leading to multi-drug therapy.”

Hailing from Chennai, Dr Noordeen was the director of the WHO’s action programme for the elimination of leprosy from 1994 to 1998 – during the crucial years that saw the global roll out and implementation of multi-drug therapy (MDT) which remains, to this day, the main tool for the treatment and elimination of the disease.

Noordeen strongly supported global efforts to reduce stigma and social exclusion associated with leprosy by disseminating information on the effectiveness of treatment, and by making it available for free to all those in need through large-scale donations made to the WHO.

Prior to that and in 1991, Noordeen had played a crucial role in the adoption of World Health Assembly Resolution 44.9 which reaffirmed WHO’s commitment “to attain the global elimination of leprosy as a public health problem by 2000”.

Before joining WHO, Dr Noordeen had led the Central Leprosy Training and Research Institute in his native state of Tamil Nadu.

In recognition of his contribution and work, the Indian Government had honoured him with the prestigious Padma Shri Award.