Hyd to host 21st International Leprosy Congress from 6-8 Nov

Hyderabad: The 21st International Leprosy Congress (ILC), to be held in Hyderabad from 6 to 8 November, brings together key stakeholders in the field of leprosy.

The Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative will hold the second Global Forum of People's Organisations on Hansen's Disease (leprosy) in Hyderabad as part of its "Don't Forget Leprosy" campaign ahead of the ILC.

The focus of the global forum will be on strengthening and optimising the responsibilities and capacities of people's organisations to promote the dignity of those affected by Hansen's disease.

Hansen's disease, or leprosy, is an infectious skin and peripheral nerve disease. Before the Covid-19 pandemic hampered case-finding, over 200,000 cases were reported annually. Multidrug therapy cures leprosy, but untreated, it might cause severe disability. An estimated 3-4 million people might be living with some form of disability due to leprosy.

Maya Ranavare, the president of India's Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy, one of the people's organisations participating, will present the forum's conclusions and recommendations, representing the collective voice of people's organisations worldwide, on the opening day of the ILC on 6 November.

Following three painful years in which the Covid-19 pandemic has hit hard the leprosy patient communities, the forum will focus on strengthening their organisations to address the difficulties in leprosy as viewed through the eyes of people who have personally experienced the disease.

The global forum is scheduled to include 100 participants from over 20 nations, including representatives of 20 people's organisations and nine supporting organisations.

UN Special Rapporteur on leprosy Alice Cruz, Miss World Brazil Letcia Cezar da Frota, Miss Supranational India Pragnya Ayyagari, and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa will also participate.