The Department of Community Medicine, KIMS observed the World Leprosy Day on 30th and 31st January 2022 at the Urban Health and Training Centre, Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar. Every year, the last Sunday of January is observed as World Leprosy Day. The occasion provides an opportunity to learn from those who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness on the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination. The theme for the year 2022 was ‘United for Dignity’.
Dr. Prem Sagar Panda and Dr. Alpana Mishra addressed the audience on various aspects of Leprosy. It was followed by an interactive session with the community. Other faculty members – Prof. Dr. S. R. Nayak, Dr. Ipsa Mohapatra, Dr. Geeta Chand Acharya – postgraduate student – Dr. Laxmi Priyanka – and staff of UHTC – Mr. Swarup Raychoudhury, Shradha Nayak, Satya Priya Nayak and Ramesh Nayak – also joined for the programme. Earlier, the programme started with a welcome address by Dr. Krishna Mishra, In-Charge of UHTC.
Health education was given to all the OPD attendees on the day explaining the various symptoms, treatment and sequel of the disease. This was followed by a poster presentation by the interns on recent advances in Leprosy.
The “United for Dignity” (#United4Dignity) campaign calls for unity in honouring the dignity of people who have experienced leprosy. The campaign honours the lived experiences of individuals who have experienced leprosy by sharing their empowering stories and advocating for mental wellbeing and the right to a dignified life free from disease-related stigma.
Key messages for ending Leprosy are: Together we can lift up every voice and honour the experiences of people who have experienced leprosy; People who experience leprosy face mental wellbeing challenges due to stigma, discrimination, and isolation; and People who experience leprosy have the right to a dignified life free from disease-related stigma and discrimination.