Leprosy Mailing List – April 9,  2024   Ref.:  Infolep monthly overview of new publications on leprosy. April, 2024 From:  Roos Geutjes & Josephine Breman-Srivastava, Amsterdam, the Netherlands   Dear colleagues,  A special hybrid event will be held on the 24th of April, 2024; to celebrate the launch of the RSTMH Supplement on Mental Health, Stigma and Neglected Tropical Diseases. This Journal Supplement contains interesting articles on the social stigma of people living with Hansen's disease, mental health integration in an NTD program i ..read more

    Leprosy Mailing List –  March 28,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) Social exclusion of persons who experience(d) HD From:  Joel Almeida, India Dear Pieter and colleagues, In response to a petition from a former HD (leprosy) patient, The Delhi High Court declared: "This Court is in agreement with the Petitioner that leprosy affected persons are equal members of our society and discrimination against leprosy affected persons is clear violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India." Not many diseases require similar declarations from the court. We ..read more

  Leprosy Mailing List –  March 26,  2024  Ref.:  (LML) In Memoriam: Prof. Enrico Nunzi (1941-2024) From:  Sunil Deepak, Italy Dear colleagues, Prof. Enrico Nunzi, who had dedicated his life to the fight against leprosy and in solidarity with the persons affected with this disease, passed away on 1 March 2024.     Enrico had studied medicine from Padua university in Italy and then specialised in dermatology and tropical dermatology. He had started working at Genoa university hospital in 1976 and had become its professor in 1989. In 2012, after his ..read more

  Leprosy Mailing List – March 26,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) Measuring socio-economic status in leprosy-affected communities?   From:  Wim van Brakel, the Netherlands   Dear Pieter,   I would like to offer one comment on the discussion on SES measurement and the helpful contribution of Mr Sathish Kumar Paul (LML, March 24, 2024). He wrote "However, none of these scales include the leprosy impairments.". Perhaps I misunderstood what he meant by this, but I would propose that, when using SES measures or other measure in rehabilitation, it is very important that ..read more

    Leprosy Mailing List – March 24,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) Measuring socio-economic status in leprosy-affected communities? From:  Sathish Kumar Paul, India   Dear Pieter, It is in reference to the mail by Dr. Ruth Butlin, LML, March 20, 2024, we at Schieffelin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre (SIHRLC), Karigiri have been using the Kuppuswamy scale, B G Prasad scale and the Udai Pareekh scales to assess the socio economic status of leprosy affected patients coming to the hospital. The scales though not specifically designed for leprosy affec ..read more

  Leprosy Mailing List –  March 22,  2024   Ref.: (LML)  Socio-economic status, ostracism and epidemiology of HD From:  Joel Almeida, India   Dear Pieter and colleagues,   People who experience(d) HD (leprosy) are disproportionately found in HD "colonies". Not many diseases of mind or body result in such extreme exclusion. Anecdotes of extreme or even criminal cruelty towards persons believed to have HD are not difficult to find.    Even the family members of people who experience(d) HD tend to be treated less favourably than others ..read more

  Leprosy Mailing List – March 20 ,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) Measuring socio-economic status in leprosy-affected communities? From:  Ruth Butlin, UK Dear Sir, In preparing a research study proposal for a grant application, we are wondering what tool is best to use for assessing socio-economic status amongst leprosy-affected people. We need one suitable for use in 4 different leprosy-endemic countries. Reviewing recent publications on various aspects of leprosy, I find that most authors simply rely on an interview, rather than using a standardised tool. Can anyone reco ..read more

  Leprosy Mailing List – March 20,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) New Publications On Cross-Cutting Issues In NTDs. March, 2024 From:  Roos Geutjes and Josephine Breman-Srivastava, Amsterdam, the Netherlands   Dear colleagues,  The NTD Inclusion Score Card (NISC) tool software has been updated, and an Action Plan Tool Kit (APTK) has been developed that comprises references with guides, tools, and recommendations for addressing identified gaps in inclusion. It is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Hindi. The date, location, and theme ..read more

  Leprosy Mailing List – March 20,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) New Publications On Cross-Cutting Issues In NTDs. February, 2024   From:  Roos Geutjes and Josephine Breman-Srivastava, Amsterdam, the Netherlands   Dear colleagues,  It was wonderful seeing you active on Social Media during World Leprosy Day and World NTD Day! We believe that all of us are re-inspired and encouraged to continue and accelerate our work towards beating NTDs together. In each Newsletter, we aim to provide a special section, particularly when there are multiple publicat ..read more

    Leprosy Mailing List – March 20 ,  2024   Ref.:  (LML) WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Leprosy Bulletin NO. 119, February 2024 From: Takahiro NANRI, Tokyo, Japan   Dear Dr. Schreuder and Friends,     Warm greetings from Sasakawa Health Foundation/ Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative in Tokyo. We have issued WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Leprosy Bulletin NO.119 February 2024 "Doing everything we can to achieve zero leprosy." In this issue, we feature:    MESSAGE FROM THE AMBASSADOR In 2006, I initiated the first Global Appeal ..read more