World Leprosy Day 2019: 60% of World's Leprosy Patients in India

Leprosy patients face stigma and discrimination in society, the figures made available show that there are around 850 colonies of these people in India.

Sixty percent of leprosy patients in the world are in India, said a Japanese philanthropist working to eradicate leprosy in India.

Speaking at an event here on Monday evening, Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, said that //his organisation, Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation, was working hard to meet the government's target of making India leprosy-free by 2030.

Leprosy / Hansen's Disease - History
Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects any organ like skin, eyes, mucosa, periphery nerves or any other organ. It can cause irreversible disfigurement of the extremities and nerve damage.

He said that with India observing this year as the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, known for his compassion for leprosy patients, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has managed to secure a large budget for fighting the disease.

While the rest of the world observed World Leprosy Day on January 27, this time India is observing it on January 30 because of Gandhi's birth anniversary. Sasakawa, who is known for commitment over the last 40 years to the global fight against leprosy, said the large number of patients of this disease are in India because they do not go to the hospital after seeing early symptoms and diagnosis is late.

Stating that leprosy patients face stigma and discrimination in society, Sasakawa said that figures made available show that there are around 850 colonies of these people in India.

Quiz on Leprosy
Leprosy is a disease which has left several individuals disfigured and victims of social alienation. Medications have made a big difference in controlling disfigurement and complications of the disease and preventing social stigma. Test your knowledge on this once-dreaded disease called leprosy.

"But a better survey might well take this number up to 1,500." The Japanese also said that, unlike many other countries, government officials in India were responsive and handle leprosy-related matters well. "Other countries cite lack of budget."

Sasakawa is of the view that young patients of leprosy should be provided vocational training so that they can start their own business living independently and said that the Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation provides for this.