World Leprosy Day - Sunday 28 January 2024
On every last Sunday of January the World Leprosy Day is celebrated. This year, in 2024, World Leprosy Day is on the 28th of January. This international day is an opportunity to to celebrate people who have experienced leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease; raise awareness of the disease; and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination.
World Leprosy Day was established in 1954 by French journalist and activist, Raoul Follereau. Follereau created World Leprosy Day with two goals: to advocate for the equal treatment of persons affected by leprosy and to reeducate the public about leprosy by correcting historical misconceptions surrounding the disease.
The theme of World Leprosy Day 2024 is “Beat Leprosy”. The “Beat Leprosy" campaign aims to raise awareness of leprosy, highlight the challenges faced by persons affected by leprosy, and inspire action to end leprosy. The campaign will invite the public to spread the word that leprosy still exists and that it is curable; join in the fight to end stigma and discrimination; and advocate for action to end leprosy.
This year’s theme calls attention to three key messages
- Leprosy still exists
- End stigma and discrimination
- Act now to end leprosy
An online social media toolkit has been developed for those interested to take part in the World Leprosy Day 2024 campaign.
*In India, World Leprosy Day is celebrated on 30 January, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death