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THE BIRTH OF
IDEA THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR INTEGRATION,
DIGNITY AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT
"We will function in unity in diversity."
Dr. P. K. Gopal
President for International Relations.
Mr. Honglu Zhou (see The Star May/June, 1994) obtained a Chinese passport in late August, one
of the first three individuals with Hansen's disease in China to ever accomplish this task. The other
two were Guanzhou Chen and Haobin Kong. They obtained passports in order to travel to an
international seminar held last September in Brazil. Some 50 representatives From India, Korea,
Brazil, Cuba, China and the United States gathered in the beautiful city of Petropolis to attend the
International Seminar for the Integration of Organizations of Persons Affected by Hansen's
disease. It was at this seminar that IDEA, The International Association for Integration, Dignity
and Economic Advancement, was born. The name arose out of a recognition that integration,
dignity and economic advancement are key factors in ensuring that someone with Hansen's
disease or any individual with physical or social disabilities, can lead a normal life.
"It is natural for human beings to want to live as human beings
and fight for their dignity and honor. It is equally natura
l and fight for humans to do a thing or two to make life more
meaningful and worthy of living."
-- C S Cheriyan, Regional Director, West Asia
The first step in promoting integration, dignity and economic advancement is for individuals to
regain their identities and develop forums for expressing their experiences and opinions. In the
words of Francisco Nunes ("Bacurau"), IDEA's President for International Advocacy:
"To many of us, worse than the very disease is the prejudice that comes
along with it. I think that our meeting here ....will be a great step
towards being able to regain the true identity of thousands of people.
"Many of us stopped being called Francisco, Joe, Maria, and we started
being called leprosy patients, lepers and recently Hansenites. I believe
our greatest challenge here is to make sure that millions of people from
India, China, Brazil, Korea and other countries who have lost their
identities will go back to being called by their own names.
"We are not illegal citizens in this planet .... We need to have a voice."
It is also important to recognize that dignity results in part from being in a position to help others.
If one only receive charity and can never give anything back, one's dignity and feelings of
self-worth are greatly compromised.
"By helping others, we now possess the highest worth and value of human life -
the ability to extend loving hands to those neighbors who need our help."
--S K Jung, President for Socioeconomic Development.
The objectives of IDEA, as listed in its by-laws, shall be to promote, respect and dignify all human beings,
particularly individuals who have had Hansen's disease should be actively involved in various Hansen's disease programs, including public education and fund raising projects that will directly improve the socioeconomic condition of individuals affected by Hansen's disease throughout the world. IDEA will work in collaboration with governments, national and international non-governmental organizations, and individuals with regard to education, training and rehabilitation of persons affected by Hansen's disease in order that they may receive the same privileges as those accorded all other citizens so that they may live as normally as possible. IDEA also seeks to combat prejudice, discrimination, segregation, rejection, the use of derogatory terminology and the stigma associated with the disease through self-support, self-reliance, dignity and public awareness programs.
The founding members of IDEA are a diverse groups of individuals who strongly believe that creativity and strength come from "unity in diversity" and, consequently, welcome members from
all walks of life.
Stigma in society is the final fight"
Dr. Li He Yang, Regional Director, East Asia.
INFORMATION ABOUT IDEA
IDEA, The International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement, was
established in Petropolis, Brazil on September 16, 1994. Membership is open to anyone who
shares the basic objectives of the organization. IDEA has an Executive Council, composed of
three Presidents, each with specific responsibilities, a Treasurer and five Regional Directors.
Dr. P K Gopal (India) -- President for International Relations: Dr. Gopal is presently
Rehabilitation Officer at the Sacred Heart Leprosy Center in Kumbakonam, India. He has a great
deal of experience in the socioeconomic rehabilitation of people with disabilities, especially those
affected by Hansen's disease. He has presented scientific papers at the last three International
Leprosy Congresses and written many articles about rehabilitation. In 1986, he was presented an
award as Rehabilitation Officer of the Year by the President of India. Dr. Gopal was diagnosed
with HD while studying in college, but continued post-graduation studies upon being cured. This
experience has given him further insights into the problems of persons affected by this disease. In
1994, he received his PhD, specializing in rehabilitation.
Mr. S K Jung (Korea) - President for Socioeconomic Development. Mr. Jung has been President
of the Han Sung Cooperative Association, a multi-million dollar business dedicated to improving
the lives and rights of persons with Hansen's disease, since 1990. From 1977-1990 he served as its
Managing Director. He strongly advocates setting up legal systems which will ensure that cured
individuals can return to normal society without any restrictions. This has become a reality in
Korea. Mr. Jung is working hard to share the successful Korean resettlement village movement
with other countries throughout the world. He has received the Order of National Service Merit
Award and the Order of Semble Service Merit Award.
Mr. F A V Nunez ("Bacurau ") (Brazil) - - President for International Advocacy: "Bacurau" is the
founder of MORHAN, Brazil's Movement for the Reintegration of Persons with Hansen's disease
and continues to serve as its National Coordinator. He is a National Health Councillor for the
Ministry of Health and a member of the Technical and Social Committee for Hansen's disease
Affairs of the Ministry of Health. Bacurau has had Hansen's disease and teaches in a public school
in Rio Branco - Acre.
Anwei Skinsnes Law (USA) - - Treasurer: Ms Law has extensively researched and written about the history of Hansen's disease in the United States. She has produced and written documentaries
on both Kalaupapa and Carville. She served as a consultant and lecturer for China's first three
national workshops for nurses caring for HD. She was a founding member of the Hawaii Hansen's
Disease Association and serves as a Contributing Editor for The Star.
Dr. Li He Yang (China) - - Regional Director, East Asia: Recently retired from the China Leprosy
Control and Research Center, Dr. Yang has spent his whole career (40 years) studying and
documenting China's dramatic effort to eliminate Hansen's disease. A student of Dr. Ma Hade, he
has visited every province in China and made three trips to Tibet. Though an epidemiologist by
profession, Dr. Yang is a sensitive physician and a strong proponent of the need for rehabilitation
for those persons whose lives have been affected by HD. He organized China's first three national
workshops for nurses working with HD and is now very active in improving the socioeconomic
status of persons with HD in China.
Mr. CS Cheriyan (India)--Regional Director, West Asia: Mr. Cheriyan has worked as a Health
Education Officer with the German Leprosy Relief Association since 1976. He has designed and
produced innovative health education materials, including posters and comic strips on HD, and
distributed them throughout India. He has presented many papers and written several articles on
health education and the socioeconomic aspects of HD. He has also edited one book entitled,
"Dimensions of Leprosy Eradication." In 1988, he was presented a national award by the
Government of India in public recognition of his life and work as a person affected by Hansen's
disease.
Mr. Artur C M de Sousa (Brazil) - - Regional Director, Latin America: Mr. Sousa is the
Coordinator for MORHAN in Rio de Janeiro. He is also the Coordinator for the
REPREHAN/IBISS project on Early Recognition of Hansen's disease. He is a National Health
Councillor for the Ministry of Health. He is also responsible for the international technical
formation department of MORHAN for the whole country and also serves as a technician in
epidemiology for the Health Secretary in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Mr. John Pendleton (USA) - - Regional Director, North America Europe: Chairman of the
Carville Patients' Federation, Mr. Pendleton was also President of the Patients' Employment
Corporation and on the Board of the Hansen's disease Foundation. In 1950 he received a degree
from Arizona State majoring in pre-law with accounting as a minor. He was diagnosed with
Hansen's disease in 1959 and sent to Carville in 1960 where he met and married his wife.
Discharged in 1961, he returned to work for the railroad. He also took computer and designing
courses in computers and operations as well as implementation and became a computer specialist
with the railroad. After 35 years with the railroad, Mr. Pendleton and his wife both developed
health problems and returned to Carville.
Ms Uche 'M Ekekezie (Nigeria) - - Regional Director, Africa: Ms Ekekezie has conducted health education projects with regard to HD in Nigeria for several years. She received a degree in
anthropology/sociology from the University of Nigeria and the title of her thesis was "Hansen's
Disease: A Medical or Sociological Problem?" Ms Ekekezie also co-authored a book with Joseph
N. Chukwu on the Leprosy Center at Uzuakoli which discusses the efforts of Dr. J A K Brown,
Dr. T F Davey and others from 1932-1992.
IDEA also has a General Council. The following individuals have been nominated to serve on this
Council, with more from other countries to be added later: Rev. Eiichi Ishihara (Japan); William Maio
(USA - Hawaii); Vivianne de Rojas (Cuba); Honglu Zhou (China); Dr. Wangyang Shen (China);
Neide Ansechi (Brazil); Zoica Bakirtzief (Brazil); Dr. Joon Lew (Korea); Dr. Koh Young Hoon
(Korea); Mun Suk Min (Korea); Jayaraj Devades (India); Dr. Gerinano Traple (Brazil); Su Fei Ma
Hafde (China); Representative from Japan's official organization of persons affected by HD.
For more information on IDEA, please contact Dr. P K Gopal, President for International Relations,
3/106 Karaikal Main Road, Sakkottai - 612401, Kumbakonam R S, India (Phone/FAX:
91-435-23263).
IDEA's financial base is in the US and its Registered Headquarters are at 200 Abney Circle, Oak Hill,
WV 25901 (Phone/FAX: 304-469-6808).
Individual membership dues are US $ 10.00/year; dues for organizations are US $100.00/year and
should be sent to IDEA, c/o Anwei S. Law, 200 Abney Circle, Oak Hill, WV 25901.
Anwei Skinsnes Law
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