Uepa's Dermatology Reference Service Hosts Global Leprosy Campaign
The initiative, promoted by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology in partnership with the International League of Dermatological Societies, served over 300 people
With an emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy, the Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS) at the State University of Pará (Uepa) hosted a campaign conducted by the Specialized Reference Service in Dermatology this Friday (18). Belém was one of 10 locations selected worldwide to carry out the campaign, promoted by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) in partnership with the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), to mark World Skin Health Day, celebrated on July 8.
More than 300 patients with symptoms of the disease were treated for free through the Unified Health System (SUS). The program involved dermatologists, dermatology residents, and medical students, as well as the technical and administrative staff of Dermatology/Uepa. The campaign was supported by the State Department of Public Health (Sespa) and the Municipal Health Department of Belém (Sesma).
Manuel Leandro Silva da Silva, a resident of Acará, a municipality in northeastern Pará, took the opportunity to seek specialized care due to skin changes. “I liked the service at Uepa, and I will continue the treatment with the medication the doctor prescribed,” he said.
Sylvia Rocha, a resident of Ananindeua, a municipality in the Metropolitan Region of Belém, learned about the action through social media and sought examination for a suspicious skin spot. During the screening, she received a positive diagnosis for leprosy and has already started treatment. “Here we were all well received, and the service was great,” she assured.
Information - Dermatologist and professor at CCBS/Uepa, Regina Carneiro, secretary-general of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), stated that the campaign in Belém was an opportunity to bring care and information to the population, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis of leprosy, a disease that still poses a public health challenge in Brazil.
According to her, "the disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, historically marked by poverty and limited access to health. In 2023, over 70% of new cases were reported among black or brown individuals. We need to break this cycle with concrete actions, like this campaign," she stated. The patients treated and detected with the disease have already received the first dose of medication to begin free treatment through SUS.
Global Scenario - In May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized skin diseases as a global public health priority. According to the 2025 Leprosy Epidemiological Bulletin from the Ministry of Health, Brazil reported 22,773 new cases of the disease in 2023, a 16% increase compared to the previous year.
According to Sespa, in Pará, the detection rate of leprosy cases was 1,437 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. In Belém, cases increased from 132 in 2023 to 164 in 2024, showing an increase in the detection rate from 9.38 to 11.73. From January to June 2025, 528 new cases of leprosy have already been recorded in the State, with 54 in Belém.
Doctor Alice Brandão, a Uepa graduate and dermatology resident at the institution, participated for the first time in a specific campaign against leprosy. She highlighted the importance of diagnosing an endemic disease and ensuring specialized care for the population. According to the doctor, many patients face access difficulties, making the action even more relevant.
Social Return - Student Alexandre Velasco, in the 10th semester of the Medicine course at Uepa, also positively evaluated the experience, emphasizing that participating in actions like this contributes both to professional training and to social return to the community. "It is necessary to train the eye to recognize this type of disease and other recurring ailments in medical practice, as the patient will present with these complaints, whether malignant or benign, regardless of the specialty we are working in, and we will be ready to help," he added.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves. Its main signs are spots with loss of sensitivity, tingling, and weakness in the limbs. Transmission occurs through close and prolonged contact with untreated individuals. Despite being an ancient disease, leprosy remains a public health challenge in Brazil, the second country with the most cases in the world.
Service: Uepa maintains the Dermatology Reference Service from Monday to Friday at Campus II/CCBS, at Travessa Perebebuí, No. 2623, Marco neighborhood, in Belém. Appointments are made through medical referrals via Basic Health Units.
(Collaboration by Vitória Balieiro, intern, under the supervision of Diane Maués – Ascom/CCBS)
