World Leprosy Day

Today is World Leprosy Day. Today is about standing up for those living with leprosy to fight stigma, share truth, and celebrate their abilities.

Worldwide cases of leprosy (also known as Hansen’s Disease or HD) have been slowly declining since the discovery of antibiotic treatment in the 1940’s. Despite this, the World Health Organization (2021) shockingly still recorded over 200,000 new cases of leprosy in 2019. Misinformation about leprosy is still rampant in many communities around the world. Much like our HFK Elders have experienced, people with leprosy often face extreme forms of social rejection due to inaccurate information and fear surrounding the disease.

Stigma also contributes to greater disability because it prevents individuals from seeking help when they first experience symptoms of the disease. Early detection and treatment of leprosy can help prevent disability by stopping the bacteria that causes leprosy from spreading and attacking nerve cells (Centre for Disease Control (CDC), 2021). Interestingly, it only takes a few days of antibiotic treatment before the bacterium is no longer transmissible to others, however most individuals continue treatment for up to two years to prevent a recurrent infection (National Hansen’s Disease Program, 2021).

Did you know that leprosy is actually extremely hard to catch? According to the CDC (2021) “95% of adults cannot catch it because their immune system can fight off the bacteria that causes HD”. Even this one fact has the power to transform how thousands of individuals are treated by their families and communities! We cannot underestimate the power of knowledge and accurate information.

When we look at this picture of Gebray & Getachew, we see a tenderness and a deep friendship; we see strength and dignity. There is a depth in their eyes that tells a story of good men who have experienced sorrow and extreme hardship. Our HFK Elders are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and to the healing power of community, belonging, and care. We are so grateful to learn from these wise men and to be a part of their lives. Anyone who has spent even a few hours with the Elders can attest to their remarkable ability to cultivate gratitude and joy. They did not always live this way, however. Each has their own painful story of rejection and hurt associated with this disease.