Turning the page: a new way to present leprosy on camera

At the end of 2024, we had an idea.

What if we handed over our digital channels to persons affected by leprosy for a whole month? What would they say? How would people react? 

The takeover happened in September 2025 (search #OPLtakeover). We were really pleased with the campaign and assumed that would be the end of it, but the idea gained momentum. By January 2026, we had a World Leprosy Day campaign based on the same idea, which ILEP members (other leprosy NGOs) and the World Health Organization adopted.  

There are a number of reasons why the concept captured so much attention.  Perhaps the main reason was that persons affected by leprosy were given freedom to be their magnetic, personable, engaging selves. It was a new way to present leprosy on camera. And while the idea came from our team, the credit for its success goes to the people in front of camera who were so willing to be themselves – whether that meant sharing their joy or their sadness.