TOKIO, 28 March 2014 /PRNewswire/ — It would be difficult to overstate the euphoric welcome given to the Dalai Lama on his recent visit to a community of people affected by leprosy in India.. The feeling was clearly mutual.. "Queridos hermanos y hermanas, estoy muy feliz de venir aquí y verlos", the spiritual leader said to a crowd of 500 people at Kasturba Gram Colony in Tahirpur Leprosy Complex, in New Delhi, he 20 March.
After shaking hands with as many people as time allowed, The Dalai Lama gave a speech that resonated with his audience. "Siete mil millones de seres humanos son todos iguales", said. "La gente no debe menospreciar a otros. It's absolutely wrong. La discriminación es un pecado".
Discrimination is something that people affected by leprosy know all too well. Their illness pushes them to the margins of society, denies them educational and employment opportunities, destroys marriages and restricts access to health care and social activities. Even after treatment, stigma can last a lifetime.
Faced with the challenges of leprosy, el Dalai Lama urgió a su audiencia a no perder nunca la esperanza y a avanzar con "coraje y confianza en sí mismos". As a show of support, promised to donate 1 million indian rupees (approximately US$16,400) a Kasturba Gram, as well as a portion of royalties from the sale of his books for the next five years.
India has some 850 autonomous leprosy colonies, which house around 200.000 personas. Recognizing the need for these communities to express themselves with a common voice, in 2006 The Nippon Foundation supported the establishment of a national network now known as the Association of People Affected by Leprosy.
"La lepra no es hereditaria. It is not highly infectious. No es una enfermedad peligrosa", commented the president of APAL, V. Narsappa, "No hay necesidad de aislarnos. Somos miembros iguales de la sociedad". También pidió que no se utilice el término discriminatorio "leproso".
The Dalai Lama's visit took place at the suggestion of the president of the Nippon Foundation and WHO goodwill ambassador for the elimination of leprosy, Yohei Sasakawa, who highlighted its importance. "Tengo la certeza de que las palabras que hemos escuchado hoy de Su Santidad darán un enorme aliento a las personas afectadas por lepra y a sus familias, en toda la India y en todo el mundo", declared.
Contact:
Natsuko Tominaga
RR Department. PP.
The Nippon Foundation
+81-3-6229-5131
pr@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp
FUENTE The Nippon Foundation
