World Leprosy Day (30 January) History, Significance, Theme and Observation

World Leprosy Day Quick Facts

World Leprosy Day Brief

Every year 30 January is celebrated all over the world as 'International Leprosy Prevention Day'. The purpose of celebrating this day is to spread awareness among people about this disease. It is because of the efforts made by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi to connect leprosy patients in the mainstream of society, that every year on January 30, his death anniversary is celebrated as Leprosy Prevention Day.

World Leprosy Day History

World Leprosy Day is celebrated every year in India on 30 January, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948. The day was chosen by the French Humanitarian and Author Raoul Follereau to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who helped people suffering from leprosy.

World Leprosy Day Theme(s)

World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on the last Sunday of January every year to raise awareness about leprosy. The year wise theme of World Leprosy Day is given below.

• World Leprosy Day 2020 theme - "Leprosy isn"t what you think"
• World Leprosy Day 2021 theme - "Beat Leprosy, End Stigma and advocate for Mental Wellbeing
• World Leprosy Day 2022 theme - "United for Dignity"
• World Leprosy Day 2023 theme - "Act now and leprosy"

More info about World Leprosy Day

What is called Leprosy?

Leprosy itself is called leprosy which is a Bacterial Disease. It is a chronic disease caused by bacteria such as Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. The germ of leprosy was discovered by Hansen in 1873, hence leprosy is also called Hansen's disease.

The Disease mainly affects human skin, mucosa of the Upper respiratory tract, Peripheral nerves, Eyes, and some other parts of the body. This disease spreads so slowly in the patient's body that the patient is not even aware of it for many years and this disease continues to flourish in the patient's body.

This Disease can be due to the body not getting air and open sunlight for a long time, drinking dirty and contaminated water for a long time, consuming sweet things in excess, and consuming too much intoxicant.

Symptoms of Leprosy:In Leprosy, many types of symptoms are seen in the patient's body such as:-

1. Always pus oozing from the wounds.
2. Inability to heal the wound
3. Keep blood coming out of the wounds.
4. Due to the presence of such wounds and their non-healing, the patient's limbs slowly start melting and falling down. Due to this the patient gradually becomes crippled.

Treatment of Leprosy:

• If you are suffering from leprosy then contact your doctor.
• Free medicines are also provided in most Government hospitals for the prevention of leprosy.

National Leprosy Eradication Programme:

The National Leprosy Elimination Program is a scheme launched by the government in 1955. The program was extended from 1993–94 to 2003–04 with World Bank assistance, and aimed at eradicating leprosy from public health by 2005 and reducing this number to 110,000.

NLEP was decentralized at the state/district level and leprosy services were integrated with the general care system after 2001-2002. This helped in reducing the stigma and discrimination of persons affected by leprosy (PAL).

Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is being provided free of cost on all working days in all sub-centers, primary health centers, government hospitals, and dispensaries. The leprosy program has also been an essential part of the mission since the launch of the National Rural Health Mission.

Objectives of National Leprosy Eradication Program:

1. Early detection of Leprosy in its early stage and complete treatment.
2. Prevention of infection by early treatment of infectious patients.
3. Prevention of disability by Regular treatment.
4. To make patients useful members of society by curing malformations.
5. To remove the misconceptions spread about this disease in society through health education.

Important Days of January Month - (National Days and International Days):