The 150th anniversary webcast: Past, present, and future of leprosy February 28th, 1873, was the day Dr. Gerhard Armauer Hansen first wrote in his notebook that he had observed rod-shaped bacteria in samples from patients affected by leprosy. The bacillus in question was later given the name Mycobacterium leprae—leprosy’s causative agent. The discovery is a watershed moment in the history of leprosy and global health—a scientific breakthrough that had enormous consequences. The anniversary of Hansen’s discovery will not be used to glorify the past. Rather, we take this opportunity to critically assess past achievements, take stock of the situation today, and address the future steps needed to rid the world of this ancient, misunderstood, and treatable disease. What has happened since the discovery of M. leprae in Bergen 150 years ago, what is happening now, and what does the future hold? How is this history preserved, how it is communicated, and why is the history of leprosy important to its future? Date: February 28, 2023Time: 21:00-22:15 (JST), 13:00-14:15 (CET), 12:00-13:15 (UTC)Length: 75 min.Language: EnglishOrganizers: University of Bergen, Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) InitiativeModerator: Prof. Magnus Vollset, Associate Professor, History of medicine, History of science, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway Program: Welcome remarksProf. Margareth Hagen, Rector, University of Bergen Messages from special guestsDr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (tbc)Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health, Ethiopia (tbc) The deep history of leprosy in Norway – social and cultural historyMs. Grete Eilertsen, Curator, Leprosy Museum, Bergen Feidie’s lamentation (song)Mr. Lars Foss Sørhus, Actor, Bergen City Museum Discovery: Context and consequencesProf. Lorentz Irgens, Emeritus professor, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen Hansen’s trial: Legal perspectivesProf. Henriette Sinding Aasen, Professor, Faculty of law, University of Bergen Preservation of material historyMs. Stine Dornfest, Conservator, Bergen University Museum Bergen Leprosy ArchivesMr. Yngve Nedrebø, State Archivist, Bergen State ArchivesMs. Gina Dahl, Librarian, Bergen University Library TestimoniesMr. Kofi Nyarko, President, IDEA GhanaMs. Paula Brandão, Coordinator, Morhan Research Center The decendants todayMr. Abbi Patrix, Storyteller and Armauer Hansen’s great grandson Message from WHO Goodwill AmbassadorMr. Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination/ Chairman, The Nippon Foundation Armauer Hansen today & Welcome to the June conferenceProf. Gottfried Greve, Vice-Rector, University of BergenProf. Per Sigvald Bakke, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen Register for the webcast here (opens in new window).