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Mr Yohei Sasakawa,
WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Elimination of Leprosy visits India once more
14 – 19 December 2005
Mr Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill
Ambassador for Elimination of Leprosy visited India between 14.12.05 and
19.12.05, which was his seventh visit to the country in this year. The aims of his visit were
 To
tour the states of Delhi
and Rajasthan to observe the leprosy elimination activities in the states;
To
visit the cured or under treatment patients at the various colonies and
leprosy hospitals;
To
participate in the Media Partnership Workshop, scheduled on 18.12.05
at Jaipur.
To
participate in the first National Conference on Integration and Empowerment
of People Affected by Leprosy held in Delhi
on 19.12.05.
Mr Sasakawa arrived in
Delhi accompanied by his team and
three journalists from Japan including a representative from Yoimuri Shimbun, the most widely read
news paper in that country.
This program included visits to leprosy colonies in Delhi and around
Jaipur. In Jaipur an NGO Sarthak Manav
Kusthashram working for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients
and cured person was arranging field visit.
The organization has well equipped residential facilities for patients
who are unable to return to their homes even after they are cured. In order that they are able to earn their
living here, there is cloth weaving mill; handlooms; cloth printing factory;
and various other facilities. Medical
treatment is also provided on the premises through a dispensary. Provision for medicines including those for
TB and MCR shoes are available for any needy person. Mr Sasakawa also visited a Rehabilitation
Training Centre run by the organization meant for any person with
disabilities. The interactions among
the residents; trainees; and the Japanese team were lively and mutually
informative.
The First National
Conference on Empowerment of People Affected by Leprosy was an interesting
event. It was the first time that
there was a gathering of leprosy affected people on such a large scale. The conference agreed to follow up on the
resolutions and suggestions accepted during the conference and form a
permanent body for working for giving the leprosy affected people their
rightful social position free of discrimination and stigma.
Mr Sasakawa agreed to sustain the activities as long as
necessary till the leprosy affected person gotan equal standing in society like any other un affected person.
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