Happy World Leprosy Day 2025, celebrated in Pangkep, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, with PerMaTa members and supporters from all over the province, with special guest from PerMaTa West Jawa!
The situation is not so happy, actually, with a severe lack of MDT leprosy treatment in some countries (Nigeria has not allowed any MDT into the country for a year. Thousands of people have leprosy and no drugs to stop it!) and with people dying due to complications after being cured of leprosy as a result of poorly treated immune reactions. But nevertheless, yet celebrated the many young people who have overcome the challenges of leprosy!
We chose Pangkep for this year’s celebration as a homage to Fichrin Hidayat, our friend and fellow activist, who died in December 2024 at the age of 19 due to complications of immune reactions, as a consequence of leprosy.
Hopefully this event helped to raise awareness for leprosy and the many challenges that are still ahead! Leprosy is by no means eliminated and still poses a problem both to Public Health and to the many people affected and their families.
We thank the local Government of Pangkep who actively supported this celebration! Special thanks for joining us today to Hj Herlina, head of the Pangkep health department, and Pak Asdar, district leprosy supervisor.
Thank you to Sasakawa Health Foundation for their continuous support.






