NEWS & EVENTS

On 14^th January 2024, In collaboration with The Society for Rural Development Society (SRD) and APAL state committee in Telangana recently organized a distribution program for essential commodities, bed sheets, and sarees for leprosy-affected families in the Peddambar Pate Shanti Nagar Leprosy Colony.

The SRD staff took the opportunity to educate the community about the effective management of leprosy. They emphasized the significance of adhering to medical advice, consuming nutritious food, and taking medication regularly to achieve complete recovery. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention promptly if individuals display symptoms such as dry skin or untouchable body spots. The coordinators of this event, Kranti Kishore and Parvathy, were active participants. It is noteworthy that the SRD staff also tried to dispel the notion that leprosy is a curse and clarify that it is a treatable ailment that requires timely medical attention.

On 11^th January 2024, APAL President Mrs Maya Ranavare Participated in the International Purple Festival in Goa 2024 celebrating diversity India’s first-of-its-kind inclusive festival that celebrates persons with disabilities from 8th to 13th January.

During the meeting, Mrs. Maya brought up a concern regarding the difficulties individuals affected by leprosy face when obtaining disability certificates. Specifically, she highlighted the lack of knowledge among medical professionals about how to issue certificates to those affected by leprosy. The central and state commissioners for persons with disabilities received this issue positively and are currently developing new standard operating procedures. These procedures will aim to assist individuals affected by leprosy in obtaining disability certificates in the future.

On 7^th January 2024,  Mrs. Maya Ranavare, the President of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL), participated in the National Confluence of Leprosy held in Bangalore from the 5th to the 7th of January 2024. She delivered a speech on “The Role of APAL in Leprosy Elimination in India.” The event provided a platform for experts, scholars, and stakeholders to discuss and deliberate on the challenges and opportunities in the fight against leprosy in India.

During the presentation, Mrs. Ranavare shared her experiences, as well as the practices of the organization(APAL), and acknowledged the contributions of all the supporters and leprosy champions. Her address was well-received by the attendees, who highly appreciated her valuable insights on the subject matter.

On 6^th January 2024, APAL’s President Mrs Maya Ranavare participated in the National Confluence of Leprosy from 5th to 7th January 2024 in Bangalore

The workshop & Conference theme is LEPROSY FREE INDIA – WAY FORWARD. Organized by the Indian Association of Leprologists in collaboration with VIMS& RC Bangalore.

Dr. Takahiro Nanri CEO of Sasakawa Health Foundation is the chief guest of the conference.

On the 25th of December, 2023, the Unity in Christ team, under the leadership of M. Ramesh, the State Coordinator for APAL, distributed essential commodities to twenty-six families affected by leprosy in Santosh Nagar Colony, Hyderabad, Telangana.

APAL expresses its gratitude to the Unity in Christ team and Mr. Sunil Kumar for their invaluable service rendered to the individuals affected by leprosy.

On December 23rd, 2023, a team comprising Dr. Palekar, Mrs. Maya Ranavare, President of APAL, and the District Leprosy Team, visited the leprosy colony located in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The objective of the visit was to educate people affected by leprosy about the significance of self-care for leprosy ulcers and to take measurements for MCR Footwear to ensure safe and comfortable mobility.

During the visit, the district leprosy team imparted vital knowledge to the inhabitants of the colony regarding the importance of self-care in managing leprosy ulcers. Additionally, the team also took measurements for the MCR Footwear, which would enable the people to walk safely and comfortably. Overall, the visit proved to be a significant step towards providing better healthcare services to the affected individuals.

On December 19th, 2023, emergency goods and blankets were distributed to 40 families affected by leprosy in Pasumamula Santosh Nagar Colony. The distribution was led by Mr. T Ravi Garu, Director of Reliable Trust, and Municipal Commissioner Mr. Ravinder Reddy.

The initiative was carried out under the direction of APAL’s state coordinator M Ramesh. It’s heartwarming to see such efforts being made to support the affected families.

On behalf of persons affected by leprosy, APAL express our gratitude to Reliable Trust and the team and special thanks to Mr. Ramesh for his active contribution.

On December 16th, 2023, a significant collaborative meeting took place in New Delhi. The meeting was organized by APAL-S-ILF and was graced by the esteemed presence of Dr. Takhiro Nanri, CEO of SHF. The gathering served as a beacon of hope that united the members of APAL and the dedicated staff of S-ILF in a shared mission to advance the cause of socio-economic empowerment and welfare for individuals affected by leprosy and their families across India. The synergy of minds and hearts during the meeting symbolized a profound commitment to addressing the challenges faced by this marginalized community. The participants worked together to find tangible solutions and create meaningful change.

The formation and flourishing of such alliances are a cause for celebration. When organizations pool their resources, expertise, and passion for a common purpose, the potential for positive impact becomes boundless. The collaboration between APAL-S-ILF and Dr. Takhiro Nanri’s SHF signify a dedicated effort to break down barriers, advocate for inclusivity, and amplify the voices of those often overlooked in society. This coming together exemplifies the power of unity in driving forward progress and fostering a brighter, more equitable future for all.

On 16^th December 2023, APAL’s Executive Committee Members held a meeting on 15th December 2023 in New Delhi.

During the meeting, they discussed the current situation of persons affected by leprosy and possible solutions for their social economic empowerment and welfare. It’s important to address the needs of those living in poor conditions and work towards uplifting their standard of living.

On December 15th, 2023, the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) convened a meeting of state coordinators in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Mrs. Maya Ranavare, President of APAL. The primary objective of this gathering was to identify the most pressing needs of individuals affected by leprosy and their family members and to develop feasible solutions to address these requirements.

During the meeting, all state coordinators in attendance shared their experiences regarding the current state of affairs in their respective states. They emphasized the need for socioeconomic entitlements that would empower and benefit those affected by leprosy and their kin.

It was unanimously agreed that reasonable solutions are essential to promote the welfare and socio-economic empowerment of those impacted by leprosy. Through this meeting, APAL aimed to facilitate communication and collaboration between state coordinators, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of those affected by leprosy across the nation.