Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia joined the Weija Leprosarium on Sunday, January 29,
2023 to mark the 70th Anniversary of World Leprosy Day in Accra and has charged Ghanaians
to refrain from stigmatizing people living with leprosy.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Bawumia appealed to the general public to extend love and care for
such persons by way of honouring the divine commandment that admonishes us to love our
neighbours as ourselves. He stated that the stigmatization leveled against victims is as a result of misinformation.
“The stigma is coming from years of discrimination and misinformation. People feel that when
you touch a cured leper, you will contract the disease. You can imagine what they go through
when they are essentially shunned from society.”
“I want to admonish all that let us open up our hearts and minds to support the cause of helping lepers in Ghana.’
“One of the best and most fulfilling things to do in your life is to bring smile and joy to those
who have been neglected, Dr. Bawumia added.
He however, recapped several interventions and forms of assistance the Government has
provided to leprosariums across the nation in the last six years, including the revamping and
face-lift of leprosariums.
Dr. Bawumia who is also a Patron of the Lepers Aid Committee donated 50,000 Cedis to support the expansion of the facilities at the Weija Leprosarium as part of an appeal of support. World Leprosy Day is observed globally on the last Sunday of January to honour those who have contracted the disease and raise awareness on it. The day was observed in Accra by the Lepers Aid Committee in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Accra Omega Lions Club and the National Leprosy Control Programme.
