Addis Ababa, 18 September 2013 – H.E. Mr Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, opened the Third Symposium on Leprosy and Human Rights at the Hilton Hotel in the presence of Mr Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of Leprosy and Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Dr Mustapha S Kaloko, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Dr Luis G Sambo, WHO Regional Director for Africa, His Excellency Mr Hiroyoki Kishino, Ambassador of Japan, Dr Keseteberhan Admasu, Minister of Health of Ethiopia, development partners, civil society and persons affected by leprosy, and 200 other participants. 

WHO, The Nippon Foundation and African Union acknowledged the commitment of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia to combat neglected tropical diseases in Ethiopia, and his leadership to fight stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members in Africa.

H.E. Prime Minister Hailemariam highlighted the challenge faced in the fight against stigma and discrimination in Ethiopia, and expressed his concern that many affected persons actually fail to seek timely treatment due to fear of the associated discrimination, which has led to low diagnosis and missed opportunities to timely treatment of cases.

In a video message, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, welcomed the Symposium and called upon all actors, governments and partners to fight stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. 

The WHO Regional Office for Africa has led the effort to eliminate leprosy from Africa by providing normative guidance, developing strategies and guidelines, capacity building and technical assistance to member states. The World Health Assembly 58.23/2005 and the WHO Regional Committee for Africa AFR/RC44/R5/1994 have adopted resolutions to accelerate the elimination of leprosy and associated stigma and discrimination.  Accordingly, all African countries achieved the elimination of leprosy in 2005.  In recognition of WHO’s contribution, Mr Yohei Sasakawa, conveyed deep appreciation to the WHO Regional Director for Africa for his dedication towards the fight against leprosy at the opening of the Third Symposium on Leprosy and Human Rights.

The Symposium adopted the Addis Ababa Resolution on “Leprosy and Human Rights: principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members”.
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For more information, please contact:  Dr Abebayehu Assefa abebayehua [at] et.afro.who.int Tel: +251-911 500 324 or Loza Mesfin ozam [at] et.afro.who.int  Tel: +251-911 144 194.