iCrowd Newswire
10 Sep 2019, 04:34 GMT+10
By Sasakawa Health Foundation – The Nippon Foundation
MANILA, PHILIPPINES, Sep 7 2019 – World Health Organization's (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and recipient of the 2019 Order of the Rising Sun as well as the 2018 Gandhi Peace Prize, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, is in the Philippines to call on academics, medical stakeholders and those affected by the disease to unite towards "Zero Leprosy".
Mr. Sasakawa, chairperson of The Nippon Foundation (TNF) – one of Japan's largest private organisations – is attending two key global conferences on the disease being held in Manila this week. The first is the Global Forum of People's Organizations on Hansen's Disease, which is being held September 7 to 10, and the 20th International Leprosy Congress (ILC), from September 11 to 13.
Mr. Sasakawa will also call on experts to continue working on discovering the causes of transmission of the disease but to also continue developing vaccines, and create prosthetics and orthotics for those with Hansen's disease.
"With globalization, human mobility and migration are increasing. Leprosy remains a global disease, even though the number of medical specialists are decreasing rapidly world-wide," Mr Sasakawa said.
People with Hansen's disease face severe social stigma and widespread discrimination about the disease and organizations representing them want a a greater voice in creating solutions.
For the last 40 years Mr. Sasakawa has been a leading figure in the global fight against Hansen's disease. He has visited more than 90 countries and met more than 150 national leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, sharing his message and gaining their support and commitment to eliminate leprosy.
Significant contributions to leprosy elimination
The Global Forum
The Global Forum, organised by TNF and SHF, is a gathering of delegates from organisations of persons affected by Hansen's disease, as well as other stakeholders representing public health, charitable and social services organisations.
Almost 100 participants from 23 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean will share their know-how and experiences in eliminating Hansen's disease, or leprosy as it is commonly known.
Objectives of the Global Forum of People's Organizations on Hansen's Disease
"Our role is to provide a platform for people's organizations to discuss the issues that matter to them. The Global Forum is their meeting. We hope they will use the opportunity to network, learn from each other, and make their voices heard as never before," SHF said.
"Ahead of the 20th International Leprosy Congress, they can provide a "people's perspective" on leprosy and what still needs to be done."
Attendees of the forum are also scheduled to hear from Dr. Francine Laxamana, Assistant Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health, Dr. Alice Cruz, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and Dr. Huong Tran, Director of Diseases Control Division at WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
International Leprosy Congress
Following the global forum, the 20th ILC, hosted by the Philippine Department of Health, will take place. A key objective of the ILC will be to assess the progress of the WHO's Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020.
Delegates from the Global Forum will provide a "people's perspective" on efforts to combat Hansen's Disease at the ILC.
Mr. Sasakawa will speak to experts and stakeholders at the ILC on September 11.
"This is probably the only academic conference in the world in which persons affected by the disease participate so actively," said Mr. Sasakawa.
//ENDS.
For further information and interviews with Mr. Sasakawa please contact:
Chiemi Sanga
Sasakawa Health Foundation
Phone: +81-70-4509-4213
email: [email protected]
Notes to reporters:
Contact Information:
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