World Leprosy Eradication Day 2021

World leprosy day is organized globally on 30th January or the Sunday closest to that date. The primary purpose of this day is to increase public awareness of leprosy diseases, also called “Hansen’s disease”. This particular day was actually chosen to commemorate the death of Indian world famous leader, Mahatma Gandhi, who understood the importance of this fatal disease. Leprosy is one of the oldest and fatal diseases recorded in the world. The leprosy targets the nervous system of a person, especially the nerves in the cooler parts organs of the human body such as: the feet, hands and face.

World leprosy day spread or delivered awareness and information that leprosy is in fact curable. This day is meant to help people living with the leprosy disease to understand that it is in fact a treatable disease and to know that other persons care about them. Though the disease has a treatment, there are lots of people living with the fatal disease. Leprosy holds the stigma or misconception that it is like HIV/AIDS which is why world leprosy day was organized to educated or aware people and removes or weakens or breaks misbelief or stigma. Typically leprosy is connected with being highly contagious and has disfigurement properties. Once the diagnosis is made a person affected by leprosy disease becomes social pariahs. This is another reason why world leprosy day was organized.

For more than sixty years, thousands of people from all over the world do not realize how fatal leprosy is and the horrible effects it has on the person diagnosed with the disease.

Nowadays, this observance has been marked in over 100 plus countries. A research study formulated in countries where a leprosy disease threat is well known indicates that the leprosy stigma or curse is still present. People look at this disease as a curse and the stigma becomes even stronger in some countries where people have not been aware or educated about the leprosy disease. World leprosy day educates or spreads awareness to those who are ignorant of the diseases and attempts to demolish the stigma associated with it.

For more than 60 years, on the last Sunday of January every year, millions of people across the world have stopped to remember those who suffer from leprosy disease.

World leprosy day helps to focus or examine the needs of some of the poorest people and most marginalized persons in the world – those affected by leprosy disease. Lots of human beings think of leprosy as an ancient disease that was eradicated many years ago. But each year, millions of children, women and men discover they have leprosy. 

Message to the community:

  • Leprosy can be easily treated.
  • Do not fear leprosy. Treat it
  • Leprosy disease is not the result of a curse.
  • There is no need to isolate a person who suffers from leprosy.
  • People with leprosy disease who go untreated risk getting disabilities.
  • Leprosy disease is not highly infectious.
  • People with leprosy disease can stay with their families and remain active.

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