Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative

We are a strategic alliance aiming for a leprosy-free world.
Let’s travel the last mile together.
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[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative and FELEHANSEN, an organization of persons affected by Hansen’s disease in Colombia, jointly organized a fundraising and awareness event in Cali on May 5, 2026. Event highlights are now available.

https://t.co/QBezMEqTgf

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Highlights of a reception marking the 25th anniversary of Mr. Yohei Sasakawa’s service as a global ambassador for leprosy elimination, held on May 18 at the Palais des Nations during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, are now available.

https://t.co/GaoVmIVnek

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Remembering Doddy Agustinus Tumadduk, a lawyer and activist who dedicated his life to defending the rights of marginalized communities in Indonesia and beyond, particularly persons affected by leprosy.

https://t.co/rHHR0sm5ks

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Remembering Martha Cecilia Barbosa Ladino, a Colombian who dedicated her career to public health, human rights and the inclusion of vulnerable populations, especially persons affected by Hansen’s disease and persons with disabilities.

https://t.co/hnzN9k38md

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The transformative power of education to dismantle misconceptions, challenge prejudices and build inclusive societies was the theme of the 2026 Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy, launched from Belgium.

https://t.co/vPv3jpavM5

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The Goodwill Ambassador meets with a president, a health minister and a queen as he continues his high-level advocacy for a world without leprosy and the discrimination it causes.

https://t.co/KTNp4grf6N

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The six members of the global Oversight Committee formed at the 3rd Global Forum of People’s Organizations on Hansen’s Disease share their hopes for the committee’s impact and their expectations of leprosy stakeholders.

https://t.co/JzuD9jQhuT

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Highlights of the National High-Level Conference on Hansen’s disease in Brazil, held on March 12–14 in Rio de Janeiro, are now available.

https://t.co/pOeh6nIvxO

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Dr. M.A. Arif assesses the evidence for using single-dose rifampicin as post-exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP) as a promising intervention to interrupt transmission of leprosy.

https://t.co/wL5ml6dE1s

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Evidence suggests that single-dose rifampicin as post-exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP) reduces the risk of leprosy developing among contacts by 60%, and that the impact increases progressively over time.

https://t.co/mfGmI8Kwi8

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

A quarter-century into his role, the Goodwill Ambassador, who turned 87 in January, remains committed to the work of eliminating leprosy worldwide.

https://t.co/lCJQSQ5MvT

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Highlights of The Global Appeal 2026 to End Stigma and Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy, held on January 29 in Brussels, Belgium, are now available.

https://t.co/wZ5ylUJo9Z

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

TLM GB are launching a new funding call: “Powering change from lived experience”

This call is open to organisations led by people affected by leprosy.

Details: https://t.co/L0oeVWaE8N

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The 2026 Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy was launched in Brussels, Belgium, on January 29.

This year’s appeal emphasized the transformative power of education in dispelling myths, reducing prejudice, and promoting inclusion.

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The Global Appeal 2026 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy will be launched in Brussels on 29 Jan. This year’s Appeal highlights the power of education in tackling stigma and promoting inclusion. 🔗Register here for online https://t.co/v7MLZoqg5d

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Dr. Takahiro Nanri, president of Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative, remembers the many contributions of our colleague Chiemi Sanga, “a sun-like presence for
all staff,” whose death last September was met with profound shock by the global leprosy community.
https://t.co/OiRVhToyVs

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Sasakawa Health Foundation’s Program Advisor for Medical Issues offers his take on WHO’s Global Leprosy Update 2024. Critical issues include stagnant case detection, delayed diagnosis in children, and underreporting of stigma and discrimination.
https://t.co/P8ssi6jWBP

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

“Join Hands to End Leprosy” was the tag line of last November’s Sri Lanka National Leprosy Conference, where the health minister announced a systematic plan to make the country leprosy-free by 2035. Sri Lanka sees 1,500 to 2,000 new cases a year.
https://t.co/AXAlepmBqq

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

Two research projects, one in India and the other in Brazil, empower persons affected by leprosy and transform them from subjects of study into active partners in knowledge creation and social change.
https://t.co/yTQCsSWeLX

[Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative @TNFandSHF]

The five members of the drafting committee that produced the collective outcome documents for the 3rd Global Forum of People’s Organizations on Hansen’s Disease share their thoughts on the forum, the documents and what they want to happen next.
https://t.co/rJEZ146fJb