The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on April 13 presented the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, 2021 to Dr Bhushan Kumar from Chandigarh and Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust, Gujarat.
- The annual award was instituted by Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation.
- The Vice President urged people and civil society organizations to join the campaign to eradicate leprosy. He said that there should be social mobilization in support of this noble cause. He also wanted Gram Sabha to include leprosy eradication in their programmes
- Acknowledging India’s steady fight against leprosy, Shri Naidu said that India successfully accomplished levels of leprosy eradication defined as less than one case per ten thousand population.
- Expressing his concern over the fact that India is reporting the highest number of leprosy cases in the world, Shri Naidu stated that India accounts for (51%) of the new cases detected globally (2020–2021). He said that the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) has been at the forefront of the battle against leprosy and has been trying to ensure total eradication.
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