World Leprosy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of January. This time it was celebrated all over the world on January 30, 2022.
The theme for this year is ‘United for Dignity’ and creating an environment for leprosy patients to lead a dignified life.
This day was first started in the year 1954 by the French man ‘Raul Follereau’, who told people about this ancient disease.
Till now many people around the world are not aware of this disease and they do not get proper medical help and most of the people suffering from leprosy have to face some form of stigma and discrimination. Half of them suffer from mental health problems such as depression.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
This disease causes severe skin lesions and severe damage to the nerves of the hands and feet.
The name of the doctor who discovered Mycobacterium leprae bacteria is Dr. Armor Hansen. Therefore this disease is also known as Hansen’s disease.
According to WHO, leprosy can be effectively treated by Multidrug Therapy (MDT).
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