This year marks the 150th anniversary of the discovery of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, by the Norwegian Dr. Gerhard Armauer Hansen on February 28, 1873.
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.
As a prelude, we are holding two preparatory webinars on June 6 and 13.
In a webinar earlier this year, on the actual date of Hansen’s discovery in Bergen, we discussed what has happened in the 150 years since and how the history of the disease is being preserved and shared.
In the next two webinars, we will look at what the 150th anniversary means for medical specialists and persons affected by leprosy from a medical and social perspective.
Each webinar will feature a presentation from a keynote speaker at the Bergen International Conference, the voices of persons affected by Hansen’s disease and a Q&A session with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. For the Q&A session, we invite you to submit questions for Mr. Sasakawa using the Google form below.
We look forward to your participation.
1st Preparatory Webinar: Medical Aspects of Leprosy
Date: June 6 (Tue), 2023 (Ended)
Time: 20:00-21:15 (JST), 11:00-12:15 (UTC)
Length: 75 min.
Language: English
- Welcome remarks
- Presentation by a keynote speaker of the Bergen International Conference
“What meaning does ‘150 Years Since the Discovery of the Leprosy Bacillus’ hold for medical specialists?”
Professor Paul Fine, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Presentations by organizations of persons affected by Hansen’s disease
“What meaning does ‘150 Years Since the Discovery of the Leprosy Bacillus’ hold for organizations of persons affected by Hansen’s disease in terms of treatment and care?”- ALO Society, Bangladesh
- Felehansen, Colombia
- Message from Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination
- Q&A session with Mr. Sasakawa
Moderator: Dr. Takahiro Nanri, Executive Director, Sasakawa Health Foundation - Closing remarks
2nd Preparatory Webinar: Social Aspects of Leprosy
Date: June 13 (Tue), 2023 (Ended)
Time: 20:00-21:15 (JST). 11:00-12:15 (UTC)
Length: 75 min.
Language: English
- Welcome remarks
- Presentation by a keynote speaker of the Bergen International Conference
“What meaning does ‘150 Years Since the Discovery of the Leprosy Bacillus’ hold for the UN Special Rapporteur on leprosy? “
Dr. Alice Cruz, UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members - Presentation by organizations of persons affected by Hansen’s disease
“What meaning does ‘150 Years Since the Discovery of the Leprosy Bacillus’ hold for the organizations of persons affected by Hansen’s disease in addressing social issues associated with the disease?”- Purple Hope Initiative, Nigeria
- PerMaTa, Indonesia
- Q&A session with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination
Moderator: Dr. Takahiro Nanri, Executive Director, Sasakawa Health Foundation - Closing remarks
