---
title: "The World Leprosy Day was observed on?"  
description: "The World Leprosy Day was observed on?"  
author: "Reyansh Singh"  
published: 2018-03-11  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39660/the-world-leprosy-day-was-observed-on  
category: "general knowledge"  
tags: ["general knowledge"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# The World Leprosy Day was observed on?

The [World Leprosy](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/34087/what-is-the-theme-of-the-2018-world-leprosy-day-wld) [Day was observed](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39601/on-which-day-the-anti-leprosy-day-was-observed-in-india) on?\
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## Answers

### Answer by Biswajeet Bhattacharya

![The World Leprosy Day was observed on?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/dcc88531-f697-4671-b05d-9fdb3e327154/images/7f90c8c1-3137-4c9c-8113-f0eec75771be.png)

**World Leprosy Day** is observed on the **last Sunday** of the **first month** of the year. The World Leprosy Day is observed **internationally** on the last Sunday of **January** every year. The main purpose of observing this day is to **increase** the public awareness of leprosy disease. The reason for choosing the last Sunday of January to observe this day was to **commemorate** the death of **Indian freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi** who worked tirelessly for the betterment of the people affected with the deadly disease.

![The World Leprosy Day was observed on?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/dcc88531-f697-4671-b05d-9fdb3e327154/images/9b50d4fb-0225-491c-a515-e687734eb5c4.jpg)

French philanthropist and writer, **Raoul Follereau** initiated this day in the year **1954**. The purpose of such an initiative was to **raise global awareness** of the deadly Leprosy disease or **Hansen’s** disease. Raoul Follereau initiated this day to draw attention to the fact that the deadly Leprosy disease can be prevented, treated and cured.

![The World Leprosy Day was observed on?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/dcc88531-f697-4671-b05d-9fdb3e327154/images/be9857de-ea13-4692-9bbd-43cfc5b19ccd.jpg)

Named after the **Norwegian physician**, **Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen**, Hansen’s disease or the Leprosy disease is one of the oldest diseases of the world. At that time Dr Hansen prevailed over the fact that the disease was hereditary. Instead, he proved that the disease was caused by a bacterium known as **Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis**. The **symptoms** of this disease are granulomas of the nerves, skin, eyes and the respiratory tract. As a result, there will be a lack of ability to feel pain which leads to serious infections due to the unnoticed injuries and wounds. The disease can be cured by the treatment known as **multidrug therapy**.

![The World Leprosy Day was observed on?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/dcc88531-f697-4671-b05d-9fdb3e327154/images/486cb371-8ca0-4061-a3a0-a2662324f8d7.png)

For many years the patients of Leprosy were considered as the unwanted elements of the society. The aim of the **[World](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/80700/why-world-hesitate-to-question-saudi-arabia) [Leprosy Day](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/33857/which-national-leprosy-awareness-campaign-has-been-organized-by-the-union-government-in-2017-anti-leprosy-day-ald)** is to change this attitude of people towards the leprosy patients and to increase the awareness of the public of the fact that this disease can be prevented and cured. Many **non-governmental organizations (NGOs)** organize public rallies or events on this day for raising awareness about this disease and its prevention.

![The World Leprosy Day was observed on?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/dcc88531-f697-4671-b05d-9fdb3e327154/images/31bf86f9-d92d-4167-8eb4-7b12c5aa5dcc.jpg)\


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39660/the-world-leprosy-day-was-observed-on

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