This year marked the return of an exciting event for The Leprosy Mission. The Wellesley Bailey Awards were held again this year, after being postponed during the pandemic.
With 2024 being our 150th anniversary year, the judges decided to grant an award to four remarkable winners. One of these winners is 66-year-old U Soe Win from Myanmar, whose tireless advocacy and leadership are an inspiration to us all.
About U Soe Win and His Journey Beyond Leprosy
U Soe Win, a farmer living in Myanmar, was diagnosed with leprosy at the age of 30. Over the years, his illness caused him impairments and huge financial losses. He also had to deal with social stigma during this time.
“I faced terrible discrimination from my community and so I started to avoid them. I spent most of my time hidden in my house.”
U Soe Win received Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) in 1994, and after his health improved, he slowly began reintegrating into society.
A turning point came when he was invited by The Leprosy Mission Myanmar (TLMM) to attend an awareness event in his village. Here, he found acceptance from his community, leading to the formation of a Self-Help Group (SHG).
After this, he started travelling the country – and eventually, the world – to raise awareness about leprosy and offer moral support to those affected by the disease.
“This gave me so much confidence; I was excited to do things for people like me, to be a part of a group that supported each other.”
Today, U Soe Win is a founding member and Chairperson of the Myanmar Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (MAPAL), an organisation providing vital support and advocacy for leprosy patients. Under his leadership, MAPAL has grown to include 16 grassroots branches with 581 members. He was also crucial in ensuring MAPAL members received the support they needed during the pandemic.
Thanks to U Soe Win’s courage, countless patients have come forward to receive leprosy treatment. We thank him for his dedication to helping transform the lives of people affected by this highly stigmatised disease. He is a true leprosy champion.
About the Wellesley Bailey Awards
The Wellesley Bailey Awards were started in 1999 to honour people who have made significant contributions to society by overcoming the challenges of leprosy. This prestigious award celebrates the life and work of Wellesley Bailey, who founded The Leprosy Mission in 1874.
The four winners of the 2024 Wellesley Bailey Award will be invited to join The Leprosy Mission at our 150th Anniversary Celebration in New Delhi in November.
References:
1. The Leprosy Mission announces Wellesley Bailey Award winners 2024. Leprosy Mission International. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.leprosymission.org/blog/the-leprosy-mission-announces-wellesley-bailey-award-winners-2024/.
2. U Soe Win: Wellesley Bailey Awards 2024 winner. Leprosy Mission International. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.leprosymission.org/leprosy-champions/leprosy-champions/u-soe-win-wellesley-bailey-awards-2024-winner/.