‘The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.’ – Mother Teresa
Every year on January 30th, World Leprosy Day is observed worldwide to raise awareness in people about leprosy. The core theme of this day is to cure this disease in endemic areas and ensure that patients live a life of dignity.
Each year approx. 200,000 new cases of leprosy come up and as of today there are 10 million victims in of this in the world. Surveys from World Health Organisation have given statistics according to which India has 70% of the world’s leprosy patients and the conditions seem to get worse every year.
Also known by the name of Hansen’s disease, leprosy is a contagious and chronic disease that spreads easily and requires immediate attention. Every year on World Leprosy Day, WHO focuses on getting the message out to people to take precautions and get treated appropriately.
On this day WHO put forwards a moment to collaborate with public and private health institutes to educate people and make an effort to eradicate this disease. The most important change that it aims on effecting is in the attitude of people towards leprosy and the stigma related with it.
So, let’s bring a change and make a difference this WORLD LEPROSY DAY!
