This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the discovery of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, by the Norwegian Dr. Gerhard Armauer Hansen on February 28, 1873. Today, leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is treatable with multidrug therapy (MDT), but if treatment is delayed, leprosy can cause progressive impairment and result in lifelong disability. This contributes to the persistent stigma surrounding the disease and the discrimination that persons affected by leprosy and their families continue to face. Discrimination is also a barrier to new case detection, as it discourages people from seeking treatment.

Many countries and international organizations, led by the World Health Organization are now aiming for zero leprosy—zero disease, zero disability and zero discrimination—by 2030. To achieve this goal will require stakeholders to cooperate closely.

At the same time, there is a growing recognition that the history of leprosy has much to teach us. We need to discuss how to preserve this history and how to take what we have learned from the disease into the future.

To mark this historic anniversary, Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative and the University of Bergen in Norway are organizing The Bergen International Conference on Hansen’s Disease:150 Years Since the Discovery of the Leprosy Bacillus on June 21-22, 2023.

The conference will bring together key leprosy stakeholders from around the world for two days of discussions focused on three pillars: medical, social and historical.

The conference is part of the “Don’t Forget Leprosy/Don’t Forget Hansen’s Disease” campaign launched by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative in 2021, and follows the 2022 Global Forum of People’s Organizations on Hansen’s Disease held in Hyderabad, India, the 2023 International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease incorporating the Global Appeal 2023 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and 150 anniversary events.

Progress over the last half-century has brought us closer to the goal of a world without leprosy. The Bergen Conference is an opportunity to draw on the knowledge, experience and wisdom of many people at the place where M.leprae was first observed 150 years ago, and to build momentum to complete “the last mile in leprosy”.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Date: June 21-22, 2023 (Ended)
Place: Grieg Hall (Address: Edvard Griegs Plass 1, 5015 Bergen, Norway)
Organizers: Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, The University of Bergen
Language: English (Simultaneous interpretation is being coordinated)
Special program 1 : Stradvarius Mini Concert (Program)
Special program 2 : Poster Exhibition (Academic section and Sharing Best Practices section)

Program

Day 0 : June 20 (Tuesday)

Evening reception

19:00-20:00 at King Haakon’s Hall, Bergen City

Day 1 : June 21 (Wednesday)

MC: Gottfried Greve, Vice Rector, University of Bergen

Panel discussion with scientific perspectives

Moderator: Harald G. Wiker, Professor, University of Bergen

• Liesbeth Mieras, Coordinator Research and Advocacy, NLR – until No Leprosy Remains / Leprosy Research Initiative
• Paul Saunderson, Technical Advisor, American Leprosy Missions
• Sundeep Chaitanya Vedithi, International Leprosy Association
• Tore Godal, Special adviser on global health, Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care services

Session 1: Medical Challenges (continued)

13:50-15:05

Panel discussion with practical perspectives

Moderator: Vivek Lal, Team Leader, Global Leprosy Program, WHO

• Sudarsan Mandal, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
• Taye Letta, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
• Abdulaziz Ahmed Aden, Federal Ministry of Health and Public Services, Somalia
• Sana Saleem, Director, Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health, Maldives (video)

Theme: How to fight against stigma and discrimination

Session 2: Human Rights and Dignity

15:35-16:55

Keynote Speech

• Alice Cruz, UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members

Title: A disease, a human rights problem or something in-between: why promises related to leprosy are seldom fulfilled

Panel discussion with scientific perspectives

Moderator: Shigeki Sakamoto, Professor Emeritus, Kobe University/ President, the Center for Human Rights Education and Training, Japan

• Takahiro Nanri, Executive Director, Sasakawa Health Foundation
• Geoff Warne, CEO, International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP)
• Artur Custódio Moreira de Sousa, Volunteer, Morhan, Brazil
• Pierre-Yves Thiebault, President, French Raoul Follereau Fondation

Highlight of Day 1

16:55-17:00

• Gottfried Greve, Vice Rector, University of Bergen

Day 2 : June 22 (Thursday)

MC: Harald G. Wiker, Professor, University of Bergen

Reflection of Day 1

09:00-09:05

• Harald G. Wiker, Professor, University of Bergen

Session 2: Human Rights and Dignity (continued)

09:05-10:30

Panel discussion with practical perspectives

Moderator: Jayashree P Kunju, Director, IDEA International

• Matiar Rahman, ALO Society, Bangladesh
• Javahar Ram Paswan, Vice President, Association of People Affected by Leprosy, India
• Brenda Silva de Menezes, Volunteer, Morhan, Brazil
• Woyneshet Urgessa Gutema, Executive Board Member, Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL) , Ethiopia

Special Session: The Island -From Fact to Fiction-

11:00-11:20

• Victoria Hislop, Author, UK

Theme: How historical preservation can contribute to zero leprosy

Session 3: History Preservation – Learning from the Past

11:20-12:40

Keynote Speech

Magnus Vollset, Associate Professor, University of Bergen

Title: How can history preservation contribute to zero leprosy

Panel discussion with scientific perspectives

Moderator: Morten Hammerborg, Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Science

• Lim Yong Long, Supervisor, Universiti Technologi Malaysia
• Laurinda Rosa Maciel, Researcher, Oswaldo Cruz Foundatin, Brazil
• John Manton, Honorary Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
• Mesele Terecha, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ethiopia

Special Session: My great grandfather, my mother, the documents, and me

13:40-14:00

• Abbi Patrix, Great grandson of GA Hansen, France

Session 3: History Preservation – Learning from the Past (continued)

14:00-15:00

Panel discussion with practical perspectives

Moderator: Jose Manuel Amorós, Director General, Fontilles, Spain

• Maria Rincon, Director of Medical Museum, Agua de Dios, Colombia
• Charmaine Woodward, President, Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, USA
• Arturo Cunanan, Representative, Culion Museum/ Medical Center Chief, Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, Philippines
• Cristina Nogueira, CEO, CultureAge (Rovisco Pais), Portugal

Closing session

15:00-15:10

Closing Remarks

• Takahiro Nanri, Executive Director, Sasakawa Health Foundation