By Chinedum Treasure
Stakeholders from Anambra, Edo and 11 other states have vowed to intensify efforts to end stigma and discrimination against people affected by leprosy.
The stakeholders made the commitment at a five-day Human-Centred Design-inspired Co-Creation Workshop organised by Red Aid Nigeria in collaboration with DAHW and the Institute of Social Change, Development and Innovation (ISCODEI) in Enugu.
The workshop, themed “Together, Let’s End Leprosy-Related Stigma,” focused on developing a Stigma Reduction Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Package and equipping participants with appropriate messages to promote awareness, acceptance and inclusion in their communities.
Participants, including programme officers and media representatives, were sensitised to the fact that leprosy is curable and should not be regarded as a death sentence.
The Chief Executive Officer of Red Aid Nigeria, Dr Daniel Egbule, said accurate media reporting and sustained public sensitisation were critical to helping communities understand leprosy, interact appropriately with affected persons and eliminate stigma and discrimination.
Egbule urged the media to use their platforms to disseminate factual information capable of correcting misconceptions surrounding the disease.
The Chief Operating Officer of ISCODEI, Patrick Ikani, said the media had a major role to play in creating awareness and challenging long-standing misconceptions about leprosy.
Also speaking, the Director of Programmes at Red Aid Nigeria, Dr Charles Nwafor, said the workshop was designed to promote awareness and drive social and behavioural change towards ending stigma against people affected by leprosy.
The Programme Manager, Anambra State Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Programme, Dr Chukwulobelu, stressed the need for sustained public education to correct misconceptions about leprosy and encourage early detection and treatment.
The workshop emphasised that people affected by leprosy should not be mocked, isolated or discriminated against, but should be treated with dignity and allowed equal participation in society.
Participants were subsequently encouraged to take the messages back to their respective communities and use their platforms to promote accurate information, acceptance and inclusion in the campaign to end leprosy-related stigma.
Tags: #Leprosy #EndStigma #RedAidNigeria #HealthAwareness
