Fw: Ref.: (LML) WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Leprosy Bulletin NO. 130, March 2026

 

Leprosy Mailing List �C  March 31,  2026

 

Ref.:  (LML) WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Leprosy Bulletin NO. 130, March 2026

From: Takahiro NANRI, Tokyo, Japan

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Dr. Schreuder and Friends,  

 

Warm greetings from Sasakawa Health Foundation/ Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative in Tokyo.

We have issued WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Leprosy Bulletin NO.130 March 2026 "Getting to elimination requires approaches from all angles." In this issue, we feature: 

 

MESSAGE FROM THE AMBASSADOR
This year, 2026, will be my 25th as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. During this quarter-century, I have visited 127 countries and devoted more than 3,700 days to activities promoting the elimination of leprosy. Read More 

 

VIEWPOINT
Modeling insights into the impact of SDR-PEP

Dr. David Blok, Assistant Professor, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Evidence indicates that single-dose rifampicin (SDR) reduces the risk of developing leprosy among contacts by approximately 60%. SDR starts working immediately by killing the bacteria that cause leprosy in people who have been exposed. Read more

 

VIEWPOINT
Field studies support implementation of SDR-PEP for interruption of transmission

Dr. M. A. Arif, International public health consultant, International public health consultant

Studies on the use and impact of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) have been and are being carried out under routine national programs in many countries, including India, Nepal, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Read more 

 

VIEWPOINT
Members of the 3rd Global Forum's Oversight Committee are working to promote rights-based approaches and meaningful participation

In July 2025, with facilitation support from the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative, organizations participating in the 3rd Global Forum of People's Organizations on Leprosy/Hansen's Disease, held in Bali, Indonesia, established a global level Oversight Committee. Read more

 

AMBASSADOR'S JOURNAL

Meeting with Indonesia's President and Minister of Health / Roundtable discussion with Queen of the Belgians

WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa met with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin at the president's private residence on Jan. 16, 2026. Read more

 

REPORT
Global Appeal 2026 focuses on education's role in ending leprosy stigma and discrimination

The Global Appeal 2026 to End Stigma and Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy was launched on Jan. 29, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium, at an event co-hosted by Education International and the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative, in partnership with the Damien Foundation. Read more 

 

OBITUARY

In honor of Martha Cecilia, who dedicated her life to vulnerable people

Contributed by Lucrecia Vásquez Acevedo, legal representative of FELEHANSEN

Martha Cecilia Barbosa Ladino lived a life defined by love, service, and unwavering commitment to others. She was a daughter, sister, life partner, mother, grandmother, aunt, and loyal friend whose kindness and strength touched everyone who knew her. Read more 

 

OBITUARY
Lawyer and activist Doddy Agustinus Tumadduk passed away in Indonesia

Contributed by Al Kadri, chair of PerMaTa Indonesia

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Doddy Agustinus Tumadduk on Dec. 27, 2025, at the age of 46. He was laid to rest at the Panaikan Christian Cemetery in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Read more 

 

BACK ISSUES 

 

We hope that you would enjoy reading the latest Leprosy Bulletin. 

 

Takahiro NANRI, Ph.D.
President, Sasakawa Health Foundation

*********************************************************
Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative
Sasakawa Health Foundation
Tel：81-3-6229-5377, Fax：81-33-6229-5388
email: hansen@shf.or.jp

*********************************************************

____________________________________________________________________________

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << edit...@gmail.com

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Leprosy Mailing List" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to leprosymailinglist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/leprosymailinglist/bfa0f687-ec96-4ae6-a76d-464f05677e29n%40googlegroups.com.