Noting that efforts to end leprosy has remained wanting in India, WHO’s goodwill ambassador against the crippling disease Yohei Sasakawa on Thursday pitched in for inclusion of leprosy eradication programme in the school curriculum to ensure widespread awareness about the stigmatic disease.  India has 60 per cent of the total global cases.

“India has a huge population and I recognise that its efforts to reach some population groups, like those in the mountains or say the tribal population, are probably not sufficient.

“A leprosy eradication programme should be included in the school curriculum to ensure widespread awareness about the stigmatic disease,” said Sasakawa, recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize 2019 for his fight against leprosy, especially in India.

“But relatively speaking I think the measures India is taking against the disease today are the most advanced in the world,” said Sasakawa who is on India visit to attend an event to mark the anti-leprosy Day on Thursday. The event was organised by the Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation(S-ILF), an organisation engaged in social and economic upliftment of persons affected by leprosy and their families.

Sasakawa, Chairman, Nippon Foundation, said that his organisation, Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation, is working hard to meet the government’’s target of making India leprosy-free by 2030.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister too expressed his concerns that the disease continue to exist despite so many years.  “I have already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the abolishment of more than 100 discriminatory laws and I assure the patients and the foundation that these laws will be completely eradicated in the very near future,” the minister added.

According to the World Health Organisation, India has the highest number of new cases of leprosy in the world annually, followed by Brazil and Indonesia. Though India officially eliminated leprosy in 2005 by bringing the prevalence rate below 1/10,000 at the national level,  it has not been able to eradicate the disease despite having it as a national target.

New cases have been reported from several parts of India, especially the rural belts of Bihar, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. All the cases were attributed to late diagnosis.

With an aim to sensitise the India Inc towards people affected by leprosy and their families, S-ILF on Thursday joined hands with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). “CII, in partnership with S-ILF, will drive proactive initiatives towards awareness, advocacy, and economic integration of the leprosy affected community,” said Tarun Das, Chairman, S-ILF and formed head of the CII.