About Global Appeal
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a communicable disease that can be cured with drugs that are available free of charge. But while drugs can cure the disease, they alone cannot erase the social stigma and prejudice that are a legacy of centuries of myths and misunderstandings about leprosy.
The Global Appeal is an annual message to spread awareness and call for an end to the unwarranted discrimination that persons affected by leprosy continue to face. Initiated in 2006 by Yohei Sasakawa, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, the appeal is issued every January to coincide with World Leprosy Day.
Each year it receives the support of influential partners from different fields to build solidarity and ensure that its message reaches far and wide.
Global Appeal Archive
2006-2023
About Leprosy
(Hansen’s Disease)
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It is curable with a combination of drugs known as multidrug therapy (MDT). However, if the disease is not detected and treated early, it can cause irreversible damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes, and result in lifelong disability.
Some 200,000 new cases of leprosy are reported annually worldwide.
Leprosy remains a stigmatizing disease, and a person may experience discrimination even after he or she has been cured. The discrimination limits their opportunities for education, employment and marriage, pushing them and their family members to the margins of society.
By learning about leprosy—that it is curable disease, that treatment is available free of charge and that there is no justification for discrimination—each one of us can play a role in dispelling the misconceptions that still surround leprosy and help create a world free from medical and social problems related to this age-old disease.
About Us
Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative
The Initiative is a strategic alliance that links together the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Sasakawa Health Foundation, and The Nippon Foundation for achieving a leprosy-free world.
“Don’t Forget Leprosy” campaign
Initiated by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, “Don’t forget leprosy” campaign aims to ensure that leprosy is not forgotten amid the coronavirus pandemic and to encourage all involved in leprosy work to stay focused on the goal of zero leprosy. Global Appeal 2024 is a part of the campaign.
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