NEWS & EVENTS

On 31^st January 2024, Mrs. Maya Ranavare delivered her message at Global Appeal 2024 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy will be signed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Appeal, which will be launched at a ceremony at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 31, 2024, is being signed by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa.

The event is being organized by the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative as part of its “Don’t Forget Leprosy” campaign. Since 1975, the Initiative has worked closely with the WHO toward the common goal of eliminating leprosy.

Global Appeal 2024 calls for a world where no one is left behind because of a treatable disease, aiming to break the chains of discrimination and ensure dignity for all.

Mrs. Maya’s delivered message is The eradication of discrimination against individuals affected by leprosy necessitates a collaborative effort.

It is imperative that countries establish laws and policies that acknowledge and address this issue, and involve those affected by leprosy in policy-making to address the problem of discrimination, particularly concerning leprosy.

Countries must also recognize their obligation to prevent third parties from discriminating against persons affected by leprosy, as mandated by international and domestic law. It is also essential that the fourth pillar of non-discrimination in the Global Strategy is not left behind and that all human rights are recognized as universal, interrelated, interdependent, and indivisible.

Individuals affected by leprosy should be recognized as experts with ample experience and be placed at the forefront of strategies aimed at interrupting leprosy transmission. Moreover, the World Health Organization must accord equal significance to all aspects of the Global Strategy.

On 31^st January 2024, The observance of World Leprosy Day on January 30, 2024, coinciding with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, presents an opportune moment to raise awareness about leprosy and extend support to those impacted by the ailment. It is imperative to foster an environment of compassion and empathy towards individuals afflicted by this disease. The program scheduled at Sadar Hospital in Motihari, East Champaran, can serve as a pivotal platform to read out resolutions and messages of solidarity towards leprosy-affected persons. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to come together and promote awareness and understanding towards leprosy and its repercussions on individuals and communities.

On January 31st, 2024, the Behrampur Urban Health Center in collaboration with the APAL organized a medical camp at the Satya Jeevan Leprosy Association in Santosh Nagar Behrampur. The objective of the camp was to provide free medicines for leprosy to the public, along with complimentary medical opinions, and diabetes and blood pressure screenings.

We express our sincere appreciation to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the team of the Urban Health Center, the organizing doctor, Madam Vaghela Saheb, the in-charge of Santosh Nagar police post, and Dharmendra Bhai and Satya Jain of Leprosy for their generous support of this event. We also extend our thanks to Secretary Khwaja Hussain Bhai for his invaluable contributions to the success of the camp.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and believe that this event will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of those who attended.

On 31^st January 2024, A recent report highlights the issues presented at a meeting held to ensure the success of Sparsh, a program intended to run from January 30 to February 13, under the chairmanship of the Civil Surgeon in the Deputy Commissioner Auditorium of Dhanbad District. The APAL’s State Committee in Jharkhand attended the meeting, during which Shri Madhusudan Tiwari, a member of APAL, discussed several critical issues related to leprosy patients.

Mr. Tiwari highlighted that Dhanbad district has 21 leprosy colonies, and caste certificates have not yet been issued to the children of the leprosy colonies, causing significant problems for the children. Moreover, the Dhokra Panchayat exemplifies the misconceptions about leprosy patients in society. Despite providing 1 acre of 35 decimal land to leprosy patients in 2005, the villagers of Dhokra Panchayat have not allowed the leprosy patients to settle to date.

On 31^st January 2024,  The recent conferment of the Padma Bhushan award to Shri Ram Naik Saheb by the Government of India, on behalf of APAL and APAL’s State Committee in Maharashtra, we met him and congratulated him.

The honour is in Shri Ram Naik’s contributions to society, particularly his efforts in assisting those affected by leprosy families, including one of our stakeholders. We extend our congratulations to him for his remarkable service.

It is always inspiring to witness individuals being recognized for their selfless contributions to society. Shri Ram Naik Saheb’s efforts have been instrumental in positively impacting the lives of those affected by leprosy families. His tireless efforts to assist this group demonstrate his dedication and commitment to their well-being.

On 31^st January 2024, A commemoration event was held to mark Anti-Leprosy Day in Durgapur-B leprosy colony, located in Rourkela, Odisha. Srj Sarada Nayak, Cabinet Minister, along with officials from the BSSO, DSSO, and Leprosy Officer, among others, were reported to have participated in the occasion.

On the occasion of World Leprosy Day, which falls on January 30th, 2024, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, 98 leprosy patients were awarded Great 2 certificates by APAL’s state committee in Bihar at Sadar Hospital in East Champaran, Motihari. Floral tributes were also paid to Gandhi at Gandhi Leprosy Ashram Chhatauni.

The work of the Father of the Nation was commemorated, and Sam Utthaan Apal Bihar demonstrated its commitment to the inclusion of leprosy patients and their families in mainstream society, along with the provision of quality education to their children. Leprosy patients must pay attention to their children and strive for a good education. Constitution AAPAL Bihar is committed to supporting all leprosy patients in this endeavour.

During this event, the State President of Constitution AAPAL, Mr. Someshwar Dubey, shared his insights, along with the Secretary, Mr. Brij Kishore Prasad, and Deputy Secretary, Mr. Ramesh Prasad. The wrestling ashram heads and residents also participated in the event.

This event was a significant step in the direction of empowering leprosy patients and their families. The dedication of Sam Utthaan Apal Bihar and the Constitution AAPAL Bihar towards this cause is commendable, and we hope that such initiatives will bring positive changes to the lives of leprosy patients.

On the 30th of January 2024, the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) convened a State Committee Review meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The meeting provided a platform for discussion on the current activities of the State Committee and future plans for the socioeconomic empowerment and welfare of persons affected by leprosy and their families.

During the meeting, the attendees discussed the organization’s new vision and its commitment to serving the leprosy community. APAL’s President, Mrs. Maya Ranavare, and Mr. Sarang Gayadhane, the Secretary of APAL, were in attendance and provided insightful contributions to the discussions.

Their attendance demonstrated their dedication to the cause and inspired others to be deeply involved in the services provided to the leprosy community. The meeting was a success and a step forward towards achieving the organization’s objectives.

On January 30th, 2024, in observation of Leprosy Day, the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) in conjunction with the Goonj Foundation, APAL distributed blankets and rations to members of the Leprosy Complex in Tahirpur, Delhi. The RWA President of the Leprosy Complex, Shri Girdhari Lal, alongside General Secretary Vijay Kumar, Secretary Arjun Ram, and members Gopal Chand, MD Israil, MD Aslam, and others, facilitated the distribution of these resources. We express our gratitude for their efforts in providing support to the community.

It is commendable to observe the RWA and the Goonj Foundation collaborating to help the members of the Leprosy Complex. We appreciate their dedication to providing relief to the community on this occasion. We hope that the community receives continued support and aid, and we appreciate the efforts of all those involved in making this distribution possible.

On 30^th January 2024, In conjunction with the government of Madhya Pradesh, the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) and the state committee in Madhya Pradesh conducted an anti-leprosy day rally campaign in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The rally was attended by Mrs. Maya Ranvare, President of APAL, Mr. Sarang Gaedane, Secretary of APAL, members of the State Committee, residents of colonies, and some stakeholders.

During the rally, the participants declared that leprosy is not a contagious disease, rather it is curable, and that treatment is available free of cost at all government hospitals. APAL expresses its gratitude to the government of Madhya Pradesh for their invaluable support and cooperation in this initiative.

This anti-leprosy day rally serves as a vital step towards raising awareness about the curability of leprosy and the availability of free treatment at government hospitals. It is a testament to the ongoing efforts to eradicate the stigma associated with leprosy and to promote greater inclusivity for those affected by the disease.