Talking with Health Workers, Young People About Fighting Leprosy Amid the Pandemic (2)
On January 25, I participated in a webinar organized by the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative (SLI) in the run-up to World Leprosy Day on January 30. I engaged in an online discussion with young people from Africa, Asia, and Latin America on “Raising Awareness about Leprosy―Role of Youth”.
The session followed three preparatory regional youth forums held in December 2021 and January 2022 in anticipation of a Global Youth Forum on the theme “Don’t Forget Leprosy” organized by SLI slated for March 2022.
Dr. Michael Chen from HANDA Rehabilitation and Welfare Association of China, told participants how the first Asia Youth Forum brought together young people in a virtual meeting to discuss the reduction of stigma and discrimination faced by people affected by leprosy.
He said participants from six Asian countries－Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Nepal－took part in discussions that focused on the need to involve the younger generation in the pursuit of a world free of stigma and discrimination.
“We need to cultivate the potential of young people, provide sufficient funding to young people, and a supportive platform for young people to learn, grow, communicate and solve problems,” Dr. Chen said.
Mr. Marcos Costa from MORHAN (Movement for the Reintegration of People Affected by Hansen's Disease) of Brazil, spoke of the first Latin American and Caribbean virtual meeting in which young people affected by leprosy, their family members and supporters took part.
The meeting aimed to get young people and their families to join a dialogue on the challenges those affected by the disease face and to explore policy solutions.
“In Brazil, 45 percent of new leprosy cases were not diagnosed in 2020 because of COVID-19. The pandemic has compounded challenges facing young people as many of them are unemployed due to the stigma attached to people affected by leprosy,” he said.
Mr. Tadesse Tesfaye from ENAPAL (Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy) gave an account of the discussions that took place during the first-ever Africa Youth Forum in which young people from nine countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and Mozambique, took part.
He said the forum explored “how stigma and discrimination manifest upon persons affected by leprosy and their families and the need to build national, regional and international alliances to address social and medical challenges related to the disease.”
For my part, I told the young participants that they had the means to change perceptions about leprosy by dispelling myths rooted during the many centuries that leprosy was incurable, noting: “You are educated and know how to use social media to benefit leprosy-affected communities.”
“We need collective efforts to address the disease itself and, at the same time, the rampant stigma associated with leprosy. Today, the second generation of those affected by leprosy still find difficulties getting a job because of the stigma,” I said.
“The history of the world is changed by young people. The spirit of young people is essential in the fight against leprosy. Speak out and let the world understand leprosy better. Use online tools at your disposal to tell the world not to forget leprosy.”
I believe youth participation will usher in a new and much-awaited era in global and grassroots efforts to fully tackle leprosy as a medical, public health, and human rights issue, paving the way toward a leprosy-free world.
I promised the participants that I will convey what I learned from them to presidents and prime ministers as well as senior officials of WHO and the U.N. Human Rights Council when next I have the opportunity to interact with them.
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