Programme to eliminate leprosy “on target”: “The World Health Organization programme to eradicate leprosy worldwide by 2005 is on target, officials have announced. But leprosy charities say claims are highly optimistic.” New Scientist Especially if you’ve ever had any contact with people with Hanson’s Disease (a more ‘correct’ term, since ‘leper’ is so deeply stigmatizing) — I did, not in my medical training but in my travels in India, where 60% of the world’s leprosy occurs — you’ll know that the eradication of this disfiguring illness could be one of humanity’s more compassionate ministrations toward its afflicted. Who was it who said a society should be judged by how it cares for its most unfortunate? Now, how about third world HIV?