NEWS & EVENTS

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.

On 10^th November 2023, Sahayog Leprosy Prevention’s well-wishers distributed copy notebooks to the children of individuals impacted by leprosy in the coaching class operated by Sai Ram Avtaar Leprosy Seva Samiti in Indore.

APAL expresses gratitude to Sahayog Leprosy Prevention for their valuable support and considers it their responsibility to take care of the affected individuals and their families.

On 10^th November 2023, APAL’s President Mrs. Maya Ranavare, Dr. V R Pemmaraju – SHF, and Mr. Rama Varai Sah – APAL India had the opportunity to Visit Shantivan Leprosy colony, Missionary of Charity, Umshangling, Nong Poh

Mr. Pyrbot, a physiotherapist from Ri Bhoi district accompanied the SHF and APAL team to the hospital and introduced to Sr M Sarika MC in charge of the leprosy hospital, and Sr M Luciana MC of the leprosy hospital.

• 70 patients are inmates of the hospital, most of them needing disability care

• The physiotherapy unit is equipped but no trained staff is available.

• Footwear unit with facilities of micro-cellular rubber footwear lacks trained staff to provide footwear though equipment is available

• Rations for the patients are provided by Missionaries of charity and drawn from donations from local philanthropists

• Majority of the patients belong to Assam

• Mr. Kat Tongper is the local contact person for the persons affected by leprosy in the hospital

On 3^rd November 2023, APAL’s President Mrs. Maya Ranavare, Dr. V R Pemmaraju – SHF, and Mr. Rama Varai Sah – APAL India had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Chintaram Hazarika, the State Leprosy Officer (SLO) at the Directorate of Health Services in Assam.

During the meeting, they discussed the activities of the Sasakawa Health Foundation, including the work of its Goodwill Ambassador for leprosy elimination, Mr. Sasakawa. They also introduced the activities of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL). Additionally, they presented the annual report for the year 2022-23 to SLO Assam.

suggested a meeting with the Managing Director of National Health Mission (MD NHM) to discuss the challenges faced in the program. During the meeting, they shared that there were high rates of new case detection in the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts, and a special search activity was planned in early 2024 to address this issue. The special search activity would involve the participation of staff from tea gardens and civil society organizations.

They also informed MD NHM that no other leprosy NGO was currently active in Assam and that APAL in Assam needed reorganization and strengthening to better serve the community. In addition, they provided details about leprosy colonies and contact numbers of four persons affected by leprosy.

Finally, APAL organized a meeting with persons affected by leprosy on November 4, 2023, to facilitate their interaction with the organization.