International Council of Nurses calls for end of stigma against leprosy Geneva Switzerland, Tokyo, Japan; 27 January 2015 - Today, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) announced its support for the Global Appeal 2015 to End Stigma and Discrimination Against People Affected by Leprosy at a ceremony hosted by The Nippon Foundation in Tokyo, Japan. The Global Appeal was held with the aim of strengthening understanding of leprosy and encouraging participation in efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination of the disease by the more than 16 million nurses worldwide, who work closely with people affected by leprosy. Because of the stigma, people affected by leprosy face social rejection—even after they are cured. Whole families are marginalized, sometimes with devastating results. As the world’s largest group of health professionals, nurses are committed to alleviating physical and mental suffering and promoting the health of all people, without prejudice. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 190 thousand people suffer from leprosy, a chronic disease which mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is curable and has been eliminated from 119 countries out of 122 countries, yet myths and misconceptions about the disease persist. As part of the Global Appeal, ICN affirms the right of people affected by leprosy to receive treatment and care, and calls for an end to the discrimination they and their families face. ICN supports the right of people affected by leprosy to live in dignity as full members of the community, enjoying equal access to all their human rights. The Nippon Foundation has been championing the rights of people with leprosy since 2006. During this period, they have been tireless in raising public awareness, mobilizing the support of world leaders, and joining forces with those organisations, such as ICN, who have a commitment to human rights in general. The launching ceremony was attended by ICN President, Dr Judith Shamian; the Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr Yohei Saskawa; presidents of various nursing associations around the world, representatives from the United Nations; people affected by leprosy; and nurses and other professionals engaged in the care of people affected by leprosy. The ceremony was followed by an international symposium on leprosy featuring sessions on nursing and medical care, history preservation, and societal responses to the disease, now and in the future.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:45:50 +0000
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