Lepra.

 

Dear  Friends, World Leprosy Day takes place this Sunday, 25 January. The date was chosen in 1954 by humanitarian Raoul Follereau in tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi who shared a deep compassion for people impacted by the disease. World Leprosy Day serves as an opportunity to remind the world that leprosy still exists, and that millions of vulnerable people are still living with the consequences of this neglected tropical disease. This year’s theme is, Leprosy is curable: the real challenge is stigma. Please help us raise awareness of Lepra’s vital health information and education services which challenge the prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation that are a barrier to treatment for millions.

Meet Pawan, a person affected by leprosy who is helping to challenge the fears and myths of the disease in his own community. Following his own diagnosis, Pawan concealed his symptoms of leprosy even from his family, for fear of rejection. Living in India’s Jamui district, Pawan was wary of prevailing prejudice in the community and avoided seeking medical attention, hoping the symptoms would go away on their own. When a door-to-door detection campaign arrived in Pawan's village, a health worker encouraged him to seek treatment. Pawan and his family were reassured that leprosy is curable and is no longer transmissible after treatment has begun. Invited to attend a community-based group, Pawan learned more about managing his condition and gained support from other people affected by leprosy.  As his understanding of leprosy improved and his confidence grew, Pawan took an active role in supporting an awareness campaign. He encouraged others to speak openly about their symptoms and not hide their condition. Through his efforts, Pawan helped to normalise conversations around leprosy and contributed to early detection in the community. Read Pawan's real-life story here.

Help us detect more leprosy cases early and avoid disabilities