Amitabh Bachchan Supports Global Appeal 2018 Against Leprosy Stigma

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has joined the fight against leprosy lending support to the 2018 Global Appeal against leprosy sponsored by a Japanese philanthropist of the Nippon Foundation.

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has joined the fight against leprosy lending support to the 2018 Global Appeal against leprosy sponsored by a Japanese philanthropist and WHO goodwill ambassador for leprosy elimination.

Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa of The Nippon Foundation, also the WHO goodwill ambassador for leprosy elimination since 2001, reached out to the actor to honour him at an upcoming event for a global appeal to eliminate stigma against leprosy.

Leprosy / Hansen's Disease - History
Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects any organ like skin, eyes, mucosa, periphery nerves or any other organ. It can cause irreversible disfigurement of the extremities and nerve damage.

‘People affected by leprosy continue to be rejected and neglected by society because people are afraid it is contagious and disfiguring. However the disease can be cured with antibiotics.’

While conveying his inability to attend the event in New Delhi on January 30, Big B wrote a note to the organisers, quoting Mother Teresa, said a statement.

"The greatest disease today is not TB or leprosy, it is being unwanted and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love."

The event is being organised jointly by the Nippon Foundation and Disabled People's International (DPI).

Exploring Morbidity and Mortality Associated With Leprosy
Leprosy shows up in different populations in different ways. It's very rare in the US, but is still an enormous problem in other parts of the world.

Javed Abidi, Global Chair, DPI, said: "Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind and people affected by it continue to be rejected and neglected by society due to its outdated image of being contagious and disfiguring. However, today it is curable with antibiotics.

"We need to rise above the social, economic and legal discrimination that still persists for people affected by this disability."

Leprosy Turns the Immune System Against Itself, Study Finds
Leprosy is an infectious disease that affects the skin and peripheral nerves and is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and, less commonly, Mycobacterium lepromatosis.

Source-IANS

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