Yohei sasakawaWho has the goodwill ambassador for the elimination of leprosy, Announce the world day of leprosy 2025
Tokyo,, January 25, 2025 / Prnewswire / – On the occasion of World Leprose 2025 day January 26The goodwill ambassador for the elimination of leprosy Yohei Sasakawa announces that the Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative (SLI) will increase his support to Indonesia To fight against stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy and promote the diagnosis and early treatment of the disease.
Lepre, also known as Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae This mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. During a large part of its long history, the cause was unknown, giving birth to many myths and false ideas.
Since the introduction of multidrogue therapy recommended by WHO (MDT) in 1981, some 18 million people worldwide have been cured of leprosy. However, around 200,000 new cases are reported each year, and many people affected by leprosy and their families continue to face rejection according to stereotypes and obsolete superstitions.
After India And Brazil,, Indonesia has the third largest number of cases of leprosy in the world. In 2023, he recorded 14,376 new cases, including 1,179 children. In addition, 826 people, including 21 children, had a visible handicap at the time of diagnosis, indicating that they were diagnosed late.
“”Indonesia is one of the most important countries in the fight against leprosy, “said Sasakawa.” Overcome stigma and discrimination and promotion of early diagnosis and treatment there to speed up the progress of the world towards zero leprosy. “”
He said that from this year, SLI will intensify his support for IndonesiaWorking with government agencies, civil society organizations, research institutes, media and others to raise awareness of leprosy and encourage people to treat themselves if they suspect that they have the disease.
SLI is already supporting the National Indonesian Ministry of Health Program by WHO, as well as assistance to NGOs and Permata, an organization of people affected by leprosy.
“Leprosant is a treatable disease. With appropriate treatment and in a timely manner, handicaps associated with leprosy can be avoided,” said Al KadriPresident of Permata. “But the fear of prejudices and discrimination means that many people are not diagnosed and not treated.”
Indonesia has a complete strategy to combat leprosy, according to the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi SadikinIncluding public education campaigns, collaboration with tuberculosis initiatives to strengthen the detection and treatment of cases and support for social rehabilitation. “Thanks to these measures, we aim to achieve a IndonesiaWhere everyone can live with dignity, “he said.
As part of his support for Indonesia Efforts against the disease, SLI plan to identify several districts and work with local government agencies, health care providers and others to develop “leprosy” projects that can serve as models country.
About whom the goodwill ambassador Yohei sasakawa
As president of the Japanese Foundation, Yohei sasakawa focuses on the search for solutions to humanitarian problems and other in many regions of the world, especially in Asia And Africa. For more than half a century, he has worked to eliminate leprosy, serving as a goodwill ambassador for the elimination of leprosy since 2001, and the Japanese government’s goodwill ambassador for human rights of people touched by leprosy since 2007.
About Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative
Sasakawa Leprossy initiative is a strategic alliance of the ambassador of good will for the elimination of leprosy Yohei Sasakawa, the Sasakawa Health Foundation And The Japanese Foundation To make a world without leprosy. Since 1975, he has supported governments in their fight against leprosy by WHO, contributing more than 200 million dollars. He also made important contributions to support organizations of persons affected by leprosy and helped bring leprosy to the attention of the United Nations, which led to the adoption of several United Nations resolutions on the elimination of Discrimination against people affected by leprosy and their United Nations families for the elimination of discrimination against people affected by leprosy and their United Nations families for the elimination of discrimination against people affected by leprosy and their United Nations family for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their United Nations family for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their United Nations family for the elimination of Discrimination against people affected by leprosy and their family of their family and family members.
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Sasakawa Leprosy source initiative (Hansen disease)
