NEWS & EVENTS

On 1^st August 2023, APAL wanted to share some great news about an eye camp that recently took place in Nasik, Maharashtra. In collaboration with DN Trust and Maharashtra Kusht Pidit Sanghatana, APAL was able to conduct the camp and test 175 people who have been affected by leprosy. Not only that, but they were also able to provide eye lenses to 50 of those individuals.

This is such an incredible service that will make a difference in the lives of those affected by leprosy. APAL just wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude to DN Trust and Maharashtra Kusht Pidit Sanghatana for their amazing work and dedication to helping people affected by leprosy.

On July 25th, 2023, Mr. Prakash Done, APAL’s treasurer, along with the residents of Leprosy Colony in Bhimavaram, submitted a memorandum to the district collector, Ms. Prasanthi, regarding the sewage problem caused by the uncultivated pond during the rainy season. The colony, which is located in the 7th Ward of West Godavari District Bhimavaram, has been severely affected by the sewage entering the colony due to the rains. This has caused serious illnesses and inconvenience to the residents.

According to Mr. Prakash, the district collector responded positively to the memorandum and assured them that necessary action will be taken to resolve the issue.

APAL expresses its gratitude to the district collector for her prompt response and extends a special thanks to Mr. Prakash Done for his active contribution to the leprosy community.

On 23^rd July 2023, The Government of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with APAL’s State Committee and the Working President of SLAP, Mr. Prakash Done, recently distributed registered house pattas to 70 families affected by leprosy and their families in Bhimavaram.

This is a commendable effort towards social welfare services for those affected by leprosy, and APAL expresses its gratitude towards the government for their support. We are also grateful for Mr. Prakash Done’s active contribution to the leprosy community, and we assure that all areas will be sanctioned.

On 18^th July 2023, In collaboration with Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation, APAL along with the APAL’s state committee Maharashtra conducted a workshop with the family members of persons affected by leprosy in Nasik, Maharashtra

On this occasion, interacted with all the youth and women and discussed the Livelihood projects, and taught the financial management

APAL’s President Mrs. Maya Ranavare, SILF staff Mallika and Aftab, Sachin, Abhijeet and Mr. Jitendra from Maharashtra Kusht Sanghatana have participated.

On 18^th July 2023, APAL’s state committee in Bihar had a meeting with Mr. Saurabh Jorwal, the new district officer of East Champaran Motihari, Bihar. During the meeting, the committee members discussed various issues related to the leprosy colony, including the implementation of the Parental and Senior Citizen Welfare and Vihar Welfare Rules – 2012.

To address the pending cases at the district level, the approving officers have been directed to complete the hearing of the pending cases without delay and execute them at a speedy pace. It is hoped that this will help resolve the issues faced by the leprosy colony and ensure the welfare of all citizens.

On 18th July 2023, APAL had a wonderful opportunity to visit the Valmiki Nagar Colony in Nasik, Mumbai. We were accompanied by Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation and APAL’s state committee Maharashtra. It was a pleasure to meet and interact with the children of persons affected by leprosy.

We discussed the need for educational support for children who live under the shadow of leprosy and skill development training for women who are married and seeking to build their careers. We also had the chance to talk to the youth and women who were present.

The meeting was attended by APAL’s President Mrs. Maya Ranavare, SILF staff Mallika and Aftab, Sachin, Abhijeet and Mr. Jitendra from Maharashtra Kusht Sanghatana. It was a great experience to be a part of the initiative and we hope to participate in similar events in the future.

On 13th July 2023, In collaboration with the Regional Institute of Ayurveda, APAL conducted a Medical Camp at Gandhi Leprosy Seva Sangh in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Our team was able to provide healthcare services to 150 people who have been affected by leprosy.

We are extremely grateful to the Regional Institute of Ayurveda for their wonderful support and assistance during this event. We would also like to extend a special thanks to Mr. Vijay Kumar for his generous contribution to the leprosy community. Together, we were able to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by this condition.

On 11^th July 2023, APAL had the opportunity to visit Hanuman Nagar in Kalyan, Mumbai along with the APAL state committee Maharashtra and Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation. Our main goal was to conduct a meeting with persons affected by leprosy and their children. It was a great opportunity to interact with all the inmates and discuss the need for educational support for children living under the shadow of leprosy.

The meeting was attended by some key people, including APAL’s President Mrs. Maya Ranavare, APAL’s state coordinator Mr. Rasul Mullah, SILF’s Program Officer Mr. Sachin and Mr. Jitendra. It was a great experience to see everyone come together to support this important cause. We discussed the challenges faced by children affected by leprosy and how we can provide them with the necessary support to continue their education.

Overall, it was a highly productive meeting and APAL glad to have been a part of it. We must continue to raise awareness about the issues faced by those affected by leprosy and work towards finding solutions.

On 9th July 2023, APAL had the opportunity to visit the Mahatma Gandhi colony in Muland, Mumbai, along with the Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation and the APAL’s state committee Maharashtra. During our visit, we met with the persons affected by leprosy and their children. It was heartening to see the enthusiasm and positivity among everyone present.

We interacted with all the inmates and discussed the need for educational support for children living under leprosy’s shadow. It was an excellent opportunity to understand the challenges faced by these children and their families and to explore ways in which we can support them in their education.

APAL’s President Mrs. Maya Ranavare, APAL’s state coordinator Mr. Rasul Mullah, and SILF’s Program Officer Mr. Sachin were present at the meeting and contributed their valuable insights. It was inspiring to see their commitment to making a difference in the lives of those affected by leprosy.

Overall, the meeting was a great success, and APAL is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a meaningful initiative.

On 6th July 2023, APAL had the honour of attending the Miss. Supranational Forum on Hansen’s Disease “Driving Social Change through the Power of the Crown” organized by Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative in Poland.

One of the most impactful speeches of the day came from Mrs. Maya Ranavare, the President of APAL. She spoke passionately about the situation faced by persons affected by Hansen’s disease in India and shared her own experience as someone who has been affected by the disease. Maya also spoke about how she came to work with APAL and the amazing work that the organization is doing to support individuals affected by leprosy. It was inspiring to hear about the progress that has been made and the ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone affected by the disease has access to the support they need.

APAL would like to extend my gratitude to the Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative and their team, as well as the Nobel Man and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for leprosy elimination Mr. Yohie Sasakawa for their new initiative “Driving Social Change through the Power of the Crown.” This initiative is a wonderful way to help restore dignity to persons affected by leprosy and help them live confidently in mainstream society. APAL is incredibly thankful for this opportunity to be a part of this important work.