World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday in January. It raises awareness of the disease. It was established in 1954 by French philanthropist Raoul Follereau
Leprosy was renamed Hansen’s disease after Norwegian scientist Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen. In 1873 Hansen discovered the slow-growing bacterium now known as Mycobacterium leprae as the cause of the illness.
It mainly affects the skin, eyes, nose, and peripheral nerves.
Reportedly, everyday nearly 600 more people are diagnosed with and start treatment for leprosy. In 2014, 213 899 people were diagnosed. However, it is estimated that millions more go undiagnosed. According to the WHO data, leprosy affected 20,8,619 people world-wide in 2018. In 2019 it was more than 200,000.
Close to 15,000 children were diagnosed with Hansen’s disease in 2019, more than 40 a day. An estimated 2 to 3 million people are living with Hansen’s disease-related disabilities globally. In 2019, the countries with the highest number of new diagnoses were India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
It is difficult to catch. It can take many years to develop symptoms of the disease following an infection. People who catch the disease can easily be cured with antibiotics.
Girls and women affected by Hansen’s disease often face the added issue of gender and social discrimination.
Hansen’s disease mainly affects people in resource-limited countries, especially those who live in crowded conditions.
Many have difficulty accessing health care due to high costs of going to the doctor and long distances to reach providers and clinics familiar with Hansen’s disease.
Girls and women affected by Hansen’s disease face the added issue of gender and social discrimination.
Many people living with Hansen’s disease are unable to work due to disability caused by the disease or may face stigma that prevents them from working.
The good news is that Hansen’s disease is curable with antibiotics.
Education and improving access to basic health services for all are keys to successful elimination of stigma and disability associated with the illness.
Myths and Facts
Myth: Leprosy is contagious.
Fact; No. Jesus touched the leper and cured him. You cannot get leprosy through casual contact such as shaking hands, sitting next to, or talking to someone who has the disease.
Myth: Leprosy cannot be cured. Fact: It can be cured with anti-biotic
Myth: It is a social stigma. People need to be ostracized. Fact: It is a disease like any other. It is our leprous mind that considers it a curse and a social stigma.
Myth: Only old people are affected by leprosy.
Fact: Leprosy is not age-specific. It can affect anyone at any point in time.
What can we do?
Educate ourselves about Hansen’s disease and share with friends and family that leprosy is a curable illness.
Schools can play important role in planting in young minds positive awareness about leprosy through preparing charts, pictorial, group work, bulletin news, seminars etc based on the theme of leprosy.
Clinics and hospitals can conduct leprosy and campaign and clinics.
Governments can help identify cases and arrange treatment.