The fight against leprosy and lessons for the future: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Sasakawa Health Foundation

Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF) was established in Japan in 1974 with the principal objective of eliminating leprosy. It has a three-fold focus: tackling the disease through promoting early case detection and treatment; ending stigma and discrimination, through a human rights approach, focusing on empowerment and support for organizations of people affected; and thirdly, the preservation of the history of leprosy, focusing especially on the perspective of those who have experienced the disease personally.