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WHO Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of Leprosy visits in India

Mr Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of Leprosy, visited India from 13 to 15 July 2006.  During the visit he met Dr Samlee Pliangbangchang, Regional Director, WHO- South East Asia Region; Dr S J Habayeb, WHO Representative to India; Smt Shiela Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi; Sri Prasanna Hota, Health & Family Welfare Secretary, Government of India; and Dr Karan Singh, ex Health Minister of India. He also visited some institutions associated with providing medical and social rehabilitation of people affected by leprosy.

In the meetings with WHO officials Mr Sasakawa reiterated that the Foundation which he heads stands by the Government of India’s resolve to achieve elimination of leprosy at the state and district levels and ultimately eradicate the disease from the country. On this occasion he briefed the officers on the progress made towards setting up a separate trust for the explicit purpose of promoting economic rehabilitation among the people affected by leprosy. Dr Samlee congratulated him on the extension his term as WHO Goodwill Ambassador.

During the meeting with the Chief Minister of New Delhi, he discussed the epidemiological condition of leprosy in the capital and the problems associated with patient migration and follow up. He discussed various proposals for countering the social stigma associated with the disease and the possibility of associating religious leaders in this effort in the meeting with Dr Karan Singh.   

Mr Sasakawa visited the Satya Jivan Kust Ashram in Lajpat Nagar, the Leprosy Mission Hospital at Nand Nagari and the Premnagar Kustashram run by the Missionaries of Charity in Seema Puri. He praised the efforts of these organizations in reducing the suffering of people affected by the disease.