【Photo Diary】 (2) Visit to Indonesia

Published on September 11, 2025
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my week-long visit to Indonesia from July 5 to 11, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.

[July 7, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia]

Photo of Indonesian traditional dancers performing.
Indonesian traditional dance performance at the start of the opening ceremony of the 22nd International Leprosy Congress (ILC), held at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center.

Photo of Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Yohei Sasakawa.
With Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, symbolically demonstrating our shared commitment to moving toward a world with zero leprosy.
 


Photo of Yohei Sasakawa addressing at the opening ceremony.
In my keynote address to the opening ceremony, I emphasized that the fight against leprosy and the associated stigma and discrimination will only succeed with the active participation of persons affected by leprosy. “If we listen to the voices of persons affected by leprosy and unite our efforts, a leprosy-free world will be an attainable dream,” I said. “Let us together make the impossible possible,” I added.

Photo of attendees of the ceremony.
The ILC brought together some 750 health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and representatives from affected communities worldwide to discuss the latest developments in the field of leprosy.
 


Photo of attendees of signing agreements.
With Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin (fourth from right) alongside senior officials from five priority regions of Indonesia who signed agreements on the implementation of enhanced measures, including mass screening, for making progress towards elimination (interruption of transmission) of the disease.
After the opening ceremony, I attended a high-level meeting with the relevant Indonesian stakeholders at which the Ministry of Health formally announced these measures. They discussed strategies, challenges and solutions to the obstacles the country faces on its leprosy elimination journey.
The participation of the senior officials from the priority regions underscored the Indonesian government’s commitment to following through on the plan.
I told the meeting: “Let us respond to the minister’s strong commitment and work together to achieve zero leprosy in Indonesia.”
“Based on the discussions at today’s meeting and the field visit tomorrow we hope that a national leprosy conference in Indonesia will be convened at the earliest possible opportunity to formulate a concrete action plan toward elimination,” I added.


Photo of Yohei Sasakawa speaking at a press conference.
Speaking at a press conference, I stated that the Health Ministry alone cannot eliminate stigma and discrimination against those affected by leprosy, calling on the media to raise awareness of leprosy. “Stigma and discrimination will not disappear without the help of the media,” I added.

Photo of Ms. Saima Wazed, WHO regional director for the South-East Asia Region and Yohei Sasakawa.
With Ms. Saima Wazed, WHO regional director for the South-East Asia Region, who presented me with a picture drawn by a child affected by leprosy. (She was placed on leave on July 11 and no date was given for her return to the position.)
 


Photo of Ms. Harashta Haifa Zahara and Yohei Sasakawa.
With Ms. Harashta Haifa Zahara, an Indonesian beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Supranational 2024. She has joined our global campaign against leprosy and the stigma and discrimination associated with it.
 


Photo of Dr. Beatriz Miranda-Galarza and Yohei sasakawa.
With Dr. Beatriz Miranda-Galarza, UN special rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and their family members. She asked for my support for her official visit to Indonesia to look into the human rights situation of persons affected by leprosy in the country.
 


Photo of Dr. P. Narasimha Rao and Yohei Sasakawa.
With Dr. P. Narasimha Rao (second from right), president of the International Leprosy Association (ILA) which organized the ILC.


(To be continued)

 
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I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my week-long visit to Indonesia from July 5 to 11, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. [July 8, Sampang Regency on Madura Island in East Java Province, Indonesia] In the presence of Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, I speak to some 200 l