Farewell Speech by Dr. Jean-Pierre Schenkelaars President
International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP)
After having spent over ten years at the head of the Damien Foundation and later at the head of ILEP, and coinciding with my departure, it occurred to me that it would be interesting to make a rapid overview of this period of great change.
I had the honour of assuming presidency of the Damien Foundation in the year of Father Damien in 1989, the centenary of his death. It was also at this time that the Damien Foundation organised its previous ILEP General Assembly. Since then, we have learnt of the beatification of Father Damien. And today the Damien Foundation is in the midst of actively promoting the film 'Damien', based on the biography written by Hilde Eynikel.
Over this ten-year period, the Damien Foundation has undergone far-reaching changes in its constitution as well as in increasingly professional management of its projects and their promotion in Belgium. The growing confidence of the Belgian population has meant that its donations have risen from 141 million Belgian Francs in 1987 to 220 million Belgian Francs in 1997. Over the same period jointly financed Belgian and European projects have shot up from 10 million to over 100 million, in particular for combined leprosy/TB projects. Can we believe today that MDT was introduced just over ten years ago?
The last three years have seen great upheaval within ILEP Reflection on the future of the Federation brought changes to the Constitution, changes which principally effect the Standing Committee. Modifications in its composition, mandate and term in office are in line with the overall evolution of the Federation and will come into force from this General Assembly.
The Secretariat, itself, has also undergone profound changes. A new organogram has been brought out. The function of the Secretariat has been reviewed to give clear descriptions and measurable objectives, which may be evaluated. Above all we must not lose sight, amongst all these changes, of the recruitment and entry into office of a new General Secretary. Do I really need to publicly express here the pleasure it has been for me to work with the General Secretary, his deputy and the whole team?
A turning point worthy of mention is that after witnessing the departure of a few Member-Associations, we have just welcomed a new Member to our ranks, an event that fills me with joy.
Whilst not directly linked to ILEP I would also like to refer to the evolution within the ILA and the quality of this Congress. Patients suffering from leprosy also played a part in this Congress and their presence lead to greater consideration of social aspects.
What then can we say about the WHO? The slogan for the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem by the Year 2000 might have perturbed more than one Member Association, but we must emphasize their genuine willingness to take into consideration the opinion of NGO's and ILEP. Joint workshops organised for two years illustrate this readiness.
