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Interview
with Mr Y Sasakawa
 Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill
Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation (TNF),
has been a tireless crusader for leprosy-affected people. He attended the
Global Leprosy Programme Managers’ meeting in New Delhi, 28-29
September 2011.
Q. The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation have been leaders in
supporting leprosy elimination, through WHO as well
as directly to the endemic countries. Why is leprosy so important to these
organizations?
R. Leprosy is important for us
because in every man’s life, there is nothing worse than being ill. There are
thousands of diseases but with leprosy it’s even sadder because even after
being cured, there is terrible discrimination and they are not accepted by
their neighbours. This has been there since the Old
Testament, and in many cultures.
I take the issue seriously, as
I know the true medical as well as the social negative impact, having
travelled to over 120 countries on my mission.
Q. Now that leprosy has been
eliminated as a public health problem at the national levels in South-East Asia, what are the next challenges?
R. I don’t feel elimination is an end
but a milestone to eradication. But is eradication possible? That is difficult
to answer.
I have a metaphor for leprosy:
a motorcycle. The “front wheel” is medical, and the “rear wheel” is the
social aspect. We have been successful in the “front wheel” part, but we
still have a tiny “back wheel”. Only when the two wheels are balanced, can
the motorcycle move forward.
In the 1980s, MDT (multi-drug
therapy) was introduced, and India
alone cured 11 million people. But were those treated and cured welcomed back
into society as healthy people? NO. Their life is still very, very pathetic.
Many still have to beg. Therefore, one of my missions is to ensure there is
no more begging among leprosy-affected people here in India. Experts
say, this is impossible. But we have to make a concerted effort for
things to happen.
For example, in 2003, I
visited UNHCR and met 27 experts, and none of them knew about
leprosy-affected people and human rights. After that I visited UNHCR in Geneva every year to
push for this. Last December, 192 Member States unanimously adopted a
resolution to remove stigma and discrimination against leprosyaffected
people. As the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for leprosy, I am thankful to the
Heads of States for their support.
I must thank WHO, especially
the SEAR Regional Director, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, for his guidance and all-out support, in
moving from the medical to the social aspect, to liberate people from stigma
and discrimination and restore their dignity in society.
Q. As the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for
leprosy, having visited so many leprosy-endemic countries, what is your
advice to leprosy programme managers to tackle
these challenges? Also, how can WHO regional offices and country offices best
support the national programmes?
R. Under difficult conditions WHO
country offices are doing very well. I have worked with many international
organizations and I feel that WHO by far has very good relations with the
governments they work with, and this is important. However, now a new issue
is coming up. Some countries are decentralizing, which means more power to the
local government. It’s the local government who has the budget and decides
how to use it. Appropriate advocacy at all levels, on the medical and social
aspects of leprosy, is therefore essential.
Q. What would your message be to
improve awareness among the public about leprosy?
R. Removing the stigma and
discrimination associated with leprosy is a complex challenge, but we must
not hold back our efforts.
First we must sensitize the
international community on the human rights aspects. The second is to build
general awareness and transform society’s perception and understanding of
leprosy. The third is to empower the people affected by leprosy so that they
become the primary stakeholders in this medical, social and psychological
fight against leprosy.
Q. You have been working on stigma
reduction and human rights of leprosy-affected people for many years now.
Could you please share with us what, to you, have been your most significant
achievements?
R. I work with WHO,
with governments of countries, with all the stakeholders, and I feel my
success has been in building up this cooperation. I have been successful in
getting 192 countries to accept the resolution against stigma and
discrimination against leprosy affected people. Now, we have to effectively
use this resolution.
In India, where 70% of
leprosy-affected people reside, I’ve been supporting the National Forum of
India and started the Sasakawa India Leprosy
Foundation to provide opportunity to leprosy-affected people.
For the elderly and severely
disabled, I am now appealing to increase their pension. Then, elderly people
can live in a safe environment, younger people and their children can lead a
better life and there will be no more beggars from among the leprosy-affected
and their families.
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