![HEAL India Campaign Against Leprosy to be Launched This Week HEAL India Campaign Against Leprosy to be Launched This Week](https://images.medindia.net/health-images/1200_1000/blue-health-symbols.jpg)
In 2005, India officially declared that the disease has been eradicated romm the country. In the years since that declaration, however, the disease has resurfaced, afflicting greater numbers in the poorest states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.
India now accounts for 58 percent of the new leprosy cases worldwide.
The campaign by the Leprosy Mission Trust India will seek to clear misconceptions about the disease that cause those afflicted to be stigmatised, unable to gain employment or acceptance in society.
The campaign is slated to reach over a million people by bringing together corporate houses, governments, entrepreneurs, children, schools, celebrities, NGOs and people affected by leprosy.
India creates approximately seven million jobs every year, but people affected by leprosy struggle to find one.
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HEAL India will be reaching out to people in Delhi National Capital Region through 40,000 schools children and youth in colleges. Workshops, films, music contests, and parent-teacher associations will be used for the campaign.
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Source-IANS