World Leprosy Day

Each year there are 200,000 people diagnosed with leprosy and there are millions who are living with the damaging consequences of delayed leprosy treatment.

In 2024, World Leprosy Day is Sunday 28 January. World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sunday of January.

This date was chosen by French humanitarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who did much work with persons affected by leprosy and died at the end of January in 1948.

World Leprosy Day

World Leprosy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of January. In 2024, World Leprosy Day is 28 January. This international day is an opportunity to celebrate people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination.

Beat Leprosy

The ‘Beat Leprosy’ campaign aims to raise awareness of leprosy, highlight the challenges faced by persons affected by leprosy, and inspire action to end leprosy. The campaign will invite the public to spread the word that leprosy still exists and that it is curable; join in the fight to end stigma and discrimination; and advocate for action to end leprosy.

Key Messages

1. Leprosy still exists:
   1. Leprosy is preventable and treatable. Suffering from leprosy is needless.
   2. Join us to beat leprosy: Let’s raise awareness and end leprosy!
   3. Leprosy persists, but together, we can end it.
   4. Invisible no more. Spread the word.
2. End stigma and discrimination:
   1. Together, we can create a world free from leprosy stigma and discrimination.
   2. Leprosy is curable, but stigma persists. Help us create a world free from discrimination.
   3. Join us to Beat Leprosy: Let’s raise awareness and end stigma!
   4. Break the chains of stigma surrounding leprosy.
   5. Raise your voice for change.
3. Act now to end leprosy:
   1. Together, we can beat leprosy. Take action for change.
   2. Together, we can make a difference. Advocate for change and be part of the solution.
   3. Be the change: Join the fight to end leprosy.
   4. Leprosy is curable, but our fight doesn’t stop until it’s eliminated. Be part of the change.

Hashtags

#WorldLeprosyDay

#BeatLeprosy

#LeprosyStillExists

#EndStigma

#ActNow

#ZeroDiscrimination

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