World Leprosy Eradication Day - Your one voice can go a long way this January
World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on 30th January. The main purpose of it is to increase public awareness of Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease. Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases recorded in the world. The disease targets the nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the human body which include the feet, hands and face.
World Leprosy Day creates awareness that leprosy is in fact curable. This day is meant to help people living with the disease to understand that it is in fact a curable disease and to know that other people care about them. Though the disease has a cure, there are many people living with the disease. Leprosy holds the stigma that it is uncurable. Which is why World Leprosy Day was developed to educate people and remove or weaken the stigma.
The biggest disease today is not leprosy or cancer or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling or being unwanted, uncared for, deserted by everybody. The greatest evil is the lack of love and charity, the terrible indifference towards one's neighbour who lives at the roadside, the victim of exploitation, corruption, poverty, and disease.
World Leprosy Day is also meant to raise awareness on the need of breaking the poverty cycle all over the world. Leprosy has, for many years, been associated with poverty. To some point, this is true. Many people suffering from the disease have economical problems. World Leprosy Day focuses on poverty eradication especially on people living with leprosy. World Leprosy Day has helped in poverty eradication reaffirming how important this day really is.
We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.
Our message is simple: Leprosy is a disease that can be cured, nothing more. People affected by leprosy should not face discrimination because of the disease.
Spread the word this World Leprosy Day.