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The Seventeenth International
Leprosy Congress, the first since India achieved
elimination of leprosy as a public health problem was held from 30th January
to 4th February 2008 in International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh. The Congress was attended by over two thousand delegates including
eminent scientists, country program managers and social activists from more
than sixty countries. Most importantly Persons Affected by Leprosy (PALS)
from over twenty countries also came to participate in this conclave. WHO was
one of the co-sponsors of the Congress.
During
the Congress, new insights into the causative organism of the disease, role
of genetics, newer drug regimens, epidemiology and various risk factors were
discussed.
Inaugurating
the Congress, His Excellency Shri Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Governor of the state of Andhra Pradesh recounted
the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi in creating awareness about the disease
and in drawing attention to the plight of the sufferers. He said that the
Congress was being inaugurated on the martyrdom day of the Mahatma as a
tribute to him. The Governor said that a lot of work is still to be done
despite the success achieved in last two decades.
Mr
Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman
of the Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Memorial
Health Foundation, a longtime patron of the leprosy control activities
worldwide and a lobbyist for the human rights of the leprosy patients spoke
during the Inaugural Session. He said that the efforts to control the disease
must have a strong medical component but a stronger component to alleviate
the social stigma was necessary now.
Dr
S J Habayeb WHO Representative to India, reiterated that the organization would continue to
support the efforts of the country to reduce the burden of the disease further.
WHO would continue to provide MDT, the medicine for leprosy free of charge
and support research as required.
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