Mataram, University of Mataram — Ending leprosy transmission requires more than an elimination target. It calls for evidence-based strategies, field-level monitoring, and collaboration across countries. As part of this effort, public health expertise from the University of Mataram (Unram) is contributing to leprosy control efforts in Bangladesh. Dr. Astri Ferdiana, lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK) and Coordinator of the Master’s Programme in Public Health at Unram, has been appointed as an international expert for the Joint Monitoring Mission (JMM) on Leprosy in Bangladesh.

The JMM is being conducted from 21–29 September 2026 across selected areas and Dhaka, Bangladesh, at the invitation of the National Leprosy Program, Mycobacterial Disease Control (MBDC), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. The mission forms part of efforts to review progress and challenges in implementing Bangladesh’s national leprosy elimination strategy in support of the global goal of achieving zero transmission.

During the mission, Dr. Astri is contributing as an expert from the WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO). Her role includes reviewing programme implementation in the field, identifying challenges in leprosy control, and providing input to strengthen elimination strategies for the next stage.

Leprosy requires sustained control efforts because successful elimination depends not only on detecting and treating cases, but also on the capacity of health systems to identify cases early, interrupt transmission, prevent disability, and ensure that communities have access to appropriate health services. The Joint Monitoring Mission therefore provides an important opportunity to assess how national strategies are being implemented on the ground and identify areas where further strengthening is needed.

Through the JMM, experts and Bangladesh’s health teams are reviewing programme implementation across selected areas. The process examines programme achievements, challenges at the field level, and practices that may offer lessons for strengthening leprosy elimination efforts. This exchange of experience across countries forms part of a broader effort to develop strategies that are more responsive to local conditions and community needs.

For Dr. Astri, the assignment provides an opportunity to apply her public health expertise to a complex health challenge beyond the national context. It also connects academic knowledge with disease-control practice in the field, while expanding professional networks and opportunities for collaboration in international public health.

The contribution supports Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being by strengthening leprosy elimination strategies, particularly through earlier detection and transmission control and improved access to quality health services. Dr. Astri’s involvement demonstrates how the expertise of Unram academics can contribute to evidence-based responses to public health challenges, strengthen health systems, and address health issues across national borders.

Through the engagement of its academics in international initiatives, the University of Mataram continues to create pathways for knowledge to move from the university to the field, connecting expertise, evidence, and collaboration to deliver meaningful contributions to public health.