Rawalpindi, January 26, 2026: One of Pakistan’s oldest hospitals continues to play a pivotal role in the fight against leprosy through a long-standing partnership with Belgian institutions specializing in tropical medicine.
On the sidelines of the Belgium–Pakistan Political Consultations, a delegation visited the Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital, Pakistan’s oldest medical facility dedicated to the treatment of leprosy. The hospital works closely with the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp under the World Health Organization–supported Zero Leprosy Roadmap.
Through this Belgian–Pakistani collaboration, local doctors receive specialized training in Antwerp, aimed at strengthening the hospital’s capacity in early disease detection, drug-resistance monitoring, and overall capacity-building. These efforts are considered critical to the long-term goal of eradicating leprosy and tackling other neglected tropical diseases.
The partnership, spanning from Rawalpindi to Antwerp, underscores Belgium’s strong commitment to global health, the One Health approach, and sustained international cooperation to combat diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
Officials noted that such collaborations not only enhance local healthcare systems but also contribute to global efforts to eliminate preventable and treatable diseases through shared expertise and innovation.
