The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, in his Anti Leprosy Day message which being observed on January 30, 2016, said that we should make every possible effort to spread awareness about leprosy, its treatment, care and rehabilitation of its patients. Writing to Hind KushtNivaranSangh,the President has said “I am happy to learn that the Hind KushtNivaranSangh (Indian Leprosy Association) observes every year Anti Leprosy Day on January 30 to coincide with the Martyrdom Day of Mahatma Gandhi. Over the years, the scourge of leprosy has remained a blot on humanity. There is a need empower those who have been socially discriminated on account of leprosy through advocacy and information dissemination. Mahatma Gandhi’s love and compassion for patients suffering from leprosy is well known.
He understood the social dimensions of this disease and worked relentlessly to reintegrate patients of leprosy into the social mainstream. His efforts to eliminate the social ostracism accorded to people afflicted by leprosy went a long way in spreading awareness about the disease. The need of the hour is to intensify our efforts towards early detection of leprosy cases, provide equitable access to appropriate treatment and provide integrated leprosy services in geographically focused areas. On Anti Leprosy Day, let us rededicate ourselves to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and make every possible effort to spread awareness about leprosy, its treatment, care and rehabilitation of its patients. We must also actively work to achieve the goal of a leprosy free India. I wish the Hind KushtNivaranSangh and all those involved in this noble mission every success in their endeavours”.