“Those who are sick heals only if someone embraces him”: It is the slogan that inspires, this year, The celebration in Italy of the World Lips Day Day, established by Raoul Follereau and promoted in our country by AIFO – Italian Association of Friends of Raoul Follereau Ets, For over 60 years at the forefront of the world for the fight against leprosy to guarantee the right to care for everyone. The slogan chosen by the Association emphasizes the centrality of the person and not of the disease and underlinesto the importance of inclusion, care and support for those who are sick, Starting from the people affected by leprosy and for all those who live on the margins.
Although today it is perceived as a disease very far from the West, which is very little talked about, The leprosy continues to represent a public health problem in various countries of the world, it is found in the list of neglected tropical diseases (MTV) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the sick of I am still the victim of social marginalization and an isolation that often condemns them to poverty and disability. In 2023 182,815 global leprosy cases were recorded with a 5% increase compared to the previous year. There are three countries with the greatest concentration of cases: India, Brazil and Indonesia. Among the new cases 5.7% are children and teenagers (children under 15), while 39.9% of global cases are found among women. In 2023, among diagnosticated people, 5.3 % had serious disabilities. This indicates that, even today, due to the poor knowledge of the symptoms of the disease within the communities, the difficulties of access and the poor quality of the treatment services, the diagnosis takes place late and in many cases the person affected by the disease presents itself Already with irreversible physical disabilities and the disease may have already spread even among family contacts.
The path to a world without leprosy aims to achieve three goals: zero transmission, zero disability and zero discrimination. «The journey towards zero leprosy includes the promotion of scientific research by building consent on the research priorities of the world community: see the vaccine currently in the last phase of experimentation and the identification of new drugs, such as the” canvasbec program for leprosy “supported Also from Aifo, “he declares Giovanni Gazzoli, AIFO doctor specialized in tropical diseases. Furthermore, to stop the spread of the disease, it is essential improve the socio-economic situation of endemic countries Through a global approach that acts in an integrated way also on aspects such as education and employment, while promoting information and awareness and awareness campaigns in communities.
«Aifo works mainly in countries where there are no rights, let alone the opportunities, but our work is to create awareness on one’s rights, human and social and try with stubborn determination to create conditions of growth, autonomy, show those who are more vulnerable that can do it. Here, this is the meaning of the world day of leprosy patients: cure, but not only, training, but not only, above all the ability to create opportunities because those who have never been able to feel person, able to manage their lives ” , says the president of Aifo, Antonio Lissoni.
On the 72nd world day of leprosy patients, on January 26, hundreds of AIFO volunteers will be In the squares and parishes of Italy with the “Honey of Solidarity” and the “Kit – Stay well is a right” whose proceeds will finance the socio-health projects of the association in the world, in particular those for the fight against leprosy. Next to Aifo there will be Agesci, Gi.fra, the SISM and some dioceses, in addition to the high patronage of the President of the Republic. Information: www.aifo.it
(Photo: Training for the diagnosis of leprosy in the Cumura hospital, in Guinea Bissau, where Aifo operates)
