World Leprosy Day 2026
World Leprosy Day 2026
World Leprosy Day was celebrated in Fiji at the end of January. Whilst it is an international awareness day, few countries take the trouble to acknowledge it. However, Fiji is very aware of its history and its current connection with leprosy and ensures that the subject gets the limelight it needs and deserves on this special day.
The event was attended by people from the Ministry of Health, medical workers, former patients and our in-country representatives and was held at Tamavua Twomey Hospital in Suva.
The theme of this year’s World Leprosy Day was “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma”.
This was addressed by WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa in his speech which was released on 21 January. He says:
“One of the most stubborn challenges that I encounter on my travels is the social stigma attached to leprosy, which can be more problematic than the disease itself, and which can persist beyond the end of treatment. This is particularly true for people who have been left with residual disabilities as a result of leprosy. They may face various forms of discrimination, including forced divorce, lost educational opportunities and unfair dismissal. Even after being cured, they endure the unending pain of social exclusion.
As we work to eliminate this age-old disease, it is also our responsibility to end to the historical discrimination against those affected by it. I will not rest until everyone affected by leprosy is recognized and treated with dignity. Please join me in breaking down the walls of prejudice.”
Tapu Lupe (Right) who is originally from Tuvalu, shared her experiences of leprosy and her treatment for the disease. A news clip with her speech can be watched our website. We hope to share more of Tapu’s story in our next newsletter.
