The World Leprosy Eradication Day or the World Leprosy Day, is celebrated on January 30, or on the Sunday falling closest to this date annually. The day is to promote awareness about the epidemic, and aims to spread awareness to help people who suffer from it. The date was chosen as a mark of respect for the death of the great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi, who had a comprehensive knowledge about leprosy and made efforts in helping people suffering from the disease. Brazil, India, Tanzania, Madagascar, Nepal, Angola and Central Africa are some of the main countries who are plagued with leprosy.
Leprosy is an infectious and chronic disease. It affects the nervous system, especially the ones in the peripheral parts of the body like hands, legs, skin and the respiratory tract among other things. It is one of the oldest epidemic diseases of the world caused by the Mycobacterium Leprae. It is a rod shaped acid fast bacillus and the disease is also called the Hansen’s disease. But, it is curable, and is generally treated with Multiple Treatment Drug or MDT.

The drug was made available by WHO for free in the effected parts of the world to eradicate the disease. World Leprosy Day is an effort to spread awareness around the disease, as most people who suffer from it lead lives of pain, and have died out of the lack of treatment and the social banishment that it brought along. The day is observed worldwide to help the millions of people who are infected with the disease as well as prevent the leprosy count from growing more than 10 million. The World Leprosy Day educates the people about the need to properly manage the disease and approaching in an integrated way towards the victims.
Source:
http://www.brainsail.com/whenis/world-leprosy-eradication-day