A Global Impact: Reflections on the Work of Yohei Sasakawa, the WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus states that the leprosy epidemic is gradually declining, with new cases around 200,000 annually. Yohei Sasakawa, the WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, has led initiatives such as Eliminating Leprosy as a Public Health Problem, Leprosy as a Human Rights Issue, and Developing New Partners. This book analyzes their value and effectiveness, offering lessons for future measures against leprosy and infectious diseases.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2023
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has announced that the leprosy epidemic is gradually diminishing. Once, millions of people were affected by leprosy, but the number of new cases has decreased to approximately 200,000 per year. This remarkable decline is a result of collaborative efforts by governments, the WHO, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and organizations representing individuals affected by leprosy.

In this evolving context, Yohei Sasakawa has assumed significant roles as the World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and as the Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of his appointment as a leprosy elimination ambassador, this book serves as a retrospective, highlighting the initiatives he has promoted and led. It analyzes their value and effectiveness, with the aim of identifying valuable lessons for future endeavors.

The expert contributors to this volume focus on five key themes that have been central to Mr. Sasakawa's efforts:

Eliminating Leprosy as a Public Health Problem: Recognizing leprosy as a public health issue and taking comprehensive measures to address it.

Leprosy as a Human Rights Issue: Emphasizing the human rights of individuals affected by leprosy and advocating for their rights and dignity.

Establishing the Rights of Primary Stakeholders: Engaging with and empowering primary stakeholders, such as patients, healthcare providers, and community leaders, in the leprosy elimination process.

Expanding the Range of Awareness-Raising Activities: Implementing diverse awareness-raising activities to increase public knowledge and understanding of leprosy.

Developing New Partners: Building partnerships with various organizations, governments, and international agencies to enhance leprosy elimination efforts.

A Global Impact: Making a substantial contribution to the future development of measures against leprosy and infectious diseases, in general.

Through this comprehensive analysis, A Global Impact provides valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to eliminate leprosy and highlights the importance of collaboration, advocacy, and empowerment in achieving sustainable outcomes. It serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of individuals and organizations working towards a world free from leprosy.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805261292