World Leprosy Day was constituted in 1954 by Raoul Follereau who was a French journalist and activist. He founded World Leprosy Day with two aims:

To counsel for the equal treatment of individuals affected by this disease and to reeducate the public about it by correcting historical misconceptions surrounding the disease.

World Leprosy Day or WLD is celebrated on the last Sunday of January every year. In 2026, World Leprosy Day will fall on the 25^th of January. This international day is an opportunity to celebrate people who have experienced this disease, call for an end to  stigma and discrimination related to this disease, and raise awareness of the disease.

World Leprosy Day 2026 Overview

Theme for World Leprosy Day 2026

The World Leprosy Day 2026 theme is:

“Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma.”

This theme highlights two key messages:

1. Leprosy is curable

• Modern medicine offers effective antibiotics and multidrug therapy (MDT) that can cure leprosy completely when detected early.

• Treatment is often free and can prevent long-term disability if started promptly.

2. The real challenge today is social stigma

• Many people still fear or misunderstand leprosy, believing it to be highly contagious, incurable, or a curse — which is incorrect.

• These misconceptions lead to discrimination, social exclusion, loss of jobs, disrupted education, and even family rejection for those affected.

• Because of stigma, individuals often hide symptoms and delay seeking care, increasing the risk of complications and ongoing transmission.

Why This Matters

The theme urges communities, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to not only promote medical treatment but also to actively fight stigma and discrimination. By improving understanding and acceptance, we can ensure people affected by leprosy receive compassionate care and equal opportunities in society — bringing us closer to a leprosy-free world.

Previous Themes for World Leprosy Day

The theme for World Leprosy Day 2025 focused on “Beat Leprosy, End Stigma, and Advocate for Mental Well-Being” emphasizing the importance of removing stigma, promoting social inclusion, and ensuring access to healthcare for all affected individuals. This theme encourages governments, NGOs, and communities to work together to eliminate discrimination and build supportive systems for those affected by leprosy.

World Leprosy Messages 2026

1. Leprosy is completely curable. Let’s cure the disease and end the stigma together.

2. The real challenge of leprosy today is not medicine, but discrimination. Awareness can change lives.

3. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent disability. Don’t delay—leprosy is curable.

4. No fear. No myths. No stigma. Let’s build a world where people affected by leprosy live with dignity.

5. Leprosy does not define a person. Compassion, inclusion, and awareness define humanity.

Why is World Leprosy Day Celebrated?

We celebrate this Day to raise awareness of the disease that many people think exists no more.

Every year around 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy and there are millions who live with the damaging consequences of delayed leprosy diagnosis.

WLD is a chance to celebrate the lives of those affected, raise awareness of the symptoms and signs of the disease, and fight the stigma that too often is associated with leprosy. It is also celebrated to raise wealth so that we can be the generation that ends the transmission of leprosy.

How is World Leprosy Day celebrated?

WLD day is celebrated in both countries with and without the disease. In countries where it is either non-existent or very rare, WLD is marked by churches, NGOs, and leprosy champions who aim to raise awareness of the fact that leprosy is till present and is ruining lives.

In regions where leprosy still exists, communities and people affected by leprosy join to raise awareness and conduct events that are aimed at reducing leprosy stigma and raising awareness of the disease. In many regions there is also good support from the government, who mark the day through ministers and events.

What can you do on this year’s WLD?

If you want to make people aware  this WLD or World Leprosy Day, here are some key facts and details that you can share:

• This is a curable disease, which can be cured with a combination of antibiotics known as Multi Drug Therapy (MDT). This treatment is available free all around the globe. If it is not treated on the right time, it can lead to serious complications.
• Being atleast4,000 years old, leprosy is one of the oldest diseases known to the human race. However, we hope to be the generation that finally ends the transmission of this disease –we are aiming at zero transmission by 2035.
• This diseases till exists! Every year on an average 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy and many are living with leprosy-related disabilities, especially across Asia, Africa, and South America.

How can we help on WLD 2026 ?

Here are few things you can do to support World Leprosy Day

1. Be a voice for justice: raise awareness of WLD and spread messages of hope.
2. Donate today: There are NGO’s helping cure Leprosy. Donate to help them in this good cause.
3. Have hands of love, not hate: If you live in a community where leprosy is present, where you see persons affected by leprosy, or where you hear people talk about this disease, you can decide to demonstrate love and kindness, rather than the fear and stigma that so often follows persons affected by leprosy.

World Leprosy Day 2026: Quotes

• “Joy is more infectious than leprosy“
  – Baba Amte
• “I took up leprosy work not to help anyone, but to overcome that fear in my life. That it worked out good for others was a by-product. But the fact is I did it to overcome fear”.
  – Baba Amte
• “When nations are to perish in their sins, ’tis in the Church the leprosy begins.”
  – William Cowper

World Leprosy Day 2026: Quiz

1. When is World Leprosy Day observed every year?
a) January 15
b) Last Sunday of January
c) February 1
d) January 30

✅ Answer: b) Last Sunday of January

2. World Leprosy Day was initiated by whom?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Dr. Paul Brand
c) Raoul Follereau
d) WHO

✅ Answer: c) Raoul Follereau

3. Leprosy is also known as:
a) Hansen’s disease
b) Koch’s disease
c) Addison’s disease
d) Parkinson’s disease

✅ Answer: a) Hansen’s disease

4. What type of disease is leprosy?
a) Viral
b) Fungal
c) Bacterial
d) Genetic

✅ Answer: c) Bacterial

5. Which bacterium causes leprosy?
a) Mycobacterium tuberculosis
b) Mycobacterium leprae
c) Streptococcus
d) Salmonella

✅ Answer: b) Mycobacterium leprae