World Leprosy Day, Sunday 26th of January, 2025, was marked with multiple events in many countries where leprosy remains prevalent and continues to affect people in multiple ways. In the We are Able! project countries, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), the events focused on raising awareness and addressing the challenges, such as food insecurity, faced by people with disabilities, mainly those affected by leprosy.
In Ethiopia, various activities, among others a symposium, were organized by Ethiopian national Association of Persons affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL) and The Leprosy Mission-Ethiopia with the support of multiple other organizations, both local and national. In Addis, a symposium was organized where representatives from multiple organizations, partners, and government representatives from several ministries participated. Special attention was given to food insecurity experienced by people living with disabilities due to leprosy, and the positive effects that national and local policies are having in supporting developments towards increased food security.
In DR Congo, the Organization of People Affected by Leprosy in Congo (OPALCO) played an important role in the World Leprosy Day celebrations. As part of the theme, “Let’s start together to end leprosy,” OPALCO, along with TLM Congo and local pastors, conducted awareness campaigns in Churches in Kinshasa (including seven on Sunday 26th of January), as well as in churches in several of the provinces in DR Congo, including in South Kivu. These campaigns aimed to educate the congregations about leprosy, emphasizing that it is a curable disease, and talking about the importance of inclusive churches. The National Leprosy Elimination Program also contributed to the event together with TLM-DR Congo and OPALCO as leading partner for the on-ground awareness activities.
The events on World Leprosy Day in both countries are important, as this collective action in multiple countries is an encouragement for the organizations of persons affected by leprosy. Their efforts for more inclusive societies do have an effect on the overall level of participation in society, quality of life and food security, and the general awareness of communities.
Both ENAPAL and OPALCO are engaged in the We Are Able! Project.
Source Article: The Leprosy Mission