In 2024, World Leprosy Day is Sunday 28 January. World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sunday of January.

There are many myths surrounding leprosy that have to be exposed. We want the truth to be known about leprosy all over the world: leprosy is curable and treatment is free.

Leprosy is a bacterial infection.

All over the world, people have incorrect and harmful beliefs about leprosy. These beliefs are based on myths and they lead to discrimination against people affected by leprosy, they cause people to hide their symptoms and delay treatment. When we tackle those myths we become leprosy champions and move ourselves closer to a world without leprosy.

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.