I Plan to Scale Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in February 2024 to Raise Awareness of Leprosy

I plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania sometime between February 5 and 20 next year to display a “Don’t Forget Leprosy/Hansen’s Disease” banner at the top of Africa’s highest peak.

As WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, my aim is to inject fresh momentum into our campaign for a world without leprosy and an end to the stigma and discrimination against those affected by the disease.

I started the Don’t Forget Leprosy campaign in August 2021 to make sure that leprosy was not forgotten amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2022, I was deeply moved by a photo of world-famous Nepalese mountaineer Mr. Mingma Gyabu Sherpa holding a “Don’t Forget Leprosy” sign atop Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.

This inspired me to climb Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, in August of that year to display the “Don’t Forget Leprosy” sign at the 3,776-meter-high summit.

As for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, I turn 85 on January 8, 2024, and know there is only a small possibility－around 3%, I am told－of me reaching the 5,895-meter summit.

I understand that the air at the top of Kilimanjaro contains only about a third of the amount of oxygen it does at sea level, and the temperature drops to 25 degrees below zero Celsius.

But no matter what, I want to take on the challenge. I will do everything necessary to prepare well for the trip, but I will also have the courage to stop if I feel it is appropriate.

On the ascent, I will be accompanied by a doctor and probably five staff members of The Nippon Foundation, including my secretary and photographer.