✍️ Contributed by Dr. Fezile Mkhize, winner of the Mister Supranational 2024 title, representing South Africa

As Mister Supranational 2024, I have an array of responsibilities that align with our organization’s ethos – Inspirational and Aspirational – and it is with these words at the forefront of my mind that I traveled to the beautiful country of Ethiopia.

In January, I spent seven days in Ethiopia as an awareness-raising representative for the Supranational Organization in collaboration with the Sasakawa Health Foundation. I was able to immerse myself within Ethiopian culture and have found its greatest treasure to be its people. 

In Addis Ababa, we were welcomed and cared for by the incredible Dr. Lema and her phenomenal team at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI). We visited the ALERT hospital, the Institute, various branches of the Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL), the Addis Ababa Leprosy and Disability Rehabilitation Association (ALDRA), and the Ministry of Health. In addition to learning about present issues, we gained an understanding of the extensive and incredible history of the facilities as well as how much work has gone into decreasing the number of cases within the country over the years since their founding. 

A key issue that kept being highlighted was the stigma and subsequent discrimination that so many persons affected by leprosy face. Stigma and discrimination persist because of lack of understanding about the disease. Word must be spread that it is not as infectious as previously thought nor is it passed down through family lines.

In Shashamane, we visited the hospital, where we encountered the ulcer care clinic and in-patient facilities as well as the outpatient department that cares for those starting treatment. 

We also were able to visit a branch of ENAPAL and hear about the phenomenal work being done there with its members. They provide education and build community in the area, creating a safe haven for those who have suffered from leprosy or are currently undergoing treatment. I was incredibly inspired by the village that had formed there. It was composed of persons affected by leprosy and their family members, who had come together to generate income streams through agriculture as well as to create support structures for one another, generating a palpable sense of community. 

My short but impactful stay in Addis Ababa and Shashamane have stuck with me. I found the greatest issue to be misconceptions around leprosy and mistaken beliefs that then cause persons affected by leprosy the greatest pain – isolation from society. This isolation has caused them various problems, including reluctance to seek health care, inability to find employment, and limited ability to find partners and form bonds with others. These issues are worse than the complications of leprosy as they damage the very soul of a person. 

The Supranational Organization, in collaboration with the Sasakawa Health Foundation, is dedicated to raising awareness around the issue of leprosy. We have documented our time and have engaged with those online throughout the globe to create discussions and disseminate correct information regarding those who have leprosy and the fact that they should be incorporated into the general society. This disease is not hereditary nor is it highly infectious. Those who have suffered or are currently suffering from leprosy are capable people who want to contribute to their society and should be praised for their strength in battling through it. They deserve every right and social grace that anyone in society does.