When is World Leprosy Day 2023?

In 2023, World Leprosy Day is Sunday 29 January. World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sunday of January.

This date was chosen by French humanitarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who did much work with persons affected by leprosy and died at the end of January in 1948.

What is World Leprosy Day?

World Leprosy Day takes place on the last Sunday of January each year. It is organised by organisations of people affected by leprosy and leprosy-focused NGOs, including The Leprosy Mission, and is an opportunity to lift up the voices of people affected by leprosy throughout the world.

What is the theme for World Leprosy Day 2023?

The theme for World Leprosy Day 2023 is ‘Act Now: End Leprosy’.

Why do we celebrate World Leprosy Day?

We celebrate World Leprosy Day to raise awareness of a disease that many people think does not exist anymore.

Each year there are 200,000 people diagnosed with leprosy and there are millions who are living with the damaging consequences of delayed leprosy treatment.

World Leprosy Day is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those affected, raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease, and tackle the stigma that too often surrounds leprosy. It is also an opportunity to raise money so that we can be the generation that ends leprosy transmission.