276^ International Journal of Leprosy^ 1979

tainly nothing that can by any stretch of theimagination he termed a highlight came fromMexico. In theory, it is desirable and evenessential in the long run; in practice, its appli-cation must be subject to a diversity of localconditions and to local constraints.

Well so much for a superficial and rapidsurvey of aspects of the week's work.

Where do we go from here?I detect a note of sober, even somber, real-

ism in the papers and sessions. We are learn-ing more of the complexity of the leprosyorganism and of the immune response to chal-lenge. And the twin specters of drug resistanceand persistently viable organisms dominatemuch of our thinking today. But I can also dis-cern an excitement, an enthusiasm, as unfore-seen and unimagined vistas of research areopening up to the research immunologist andmicrobiologist.

Coupled with the realism and excitement,can we not all see and welcome the increasinginterest in the whole social environment of thesufferer from leprosy? He is a fellow human

being, a man (or woman) like unto ourselves,with hopes and frustrations, with family con-tacts, with needs for food, housing andemployment, and the simple joys of life.

In this Congress, we met each other, andappreciated each other's work. And we arecoming to realize, whatever our particularfield of activity, that we need each other morethan ever before as we face the common foe.

Highlights? Yes, a few. More importantly, ageneral intense glow of interest and coopera-tive effort, a warmth of mutual appreciationand understanding, and a realization of ourinterdependency in the One World, the globalcommunity. Coupled with all this, is the work-ing together of the research scientist, the con-cerned therapist, and those deeply moved bythe human plight of the sufferer from leprosy.

This spirit augurs well for the future -whatever the serious problems we may have toface. I.et us put into practice what we alreadyknow, and strive after new knowledge thatwill help solve this intractable and challengingproblem.

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT - ELECT OF THE ILA, DR. MICHEL F LECHAT

Muy distinguidos colegas y amigos,En primer lugo, tengo que agradecerles la

confianza que me mostraron eligiendome pre-sidente de nuestra AsociaciOn. Es un honorincomensurable para mi suceder a leprOlogostan prestigiados como fueron mis predece-sores en la presidencia: Marchoux, Wade,Fernandez, Cochrane y Convit. Tratare dehater lo mas posible para continuar en la lineaque ellos han marcado, y que resultO en un tangran exit° para nuestra AsociaciOn.

Especialmente debo rendir tributo al Dr.Jacinto Convit, quien con tanta ciencia ytanta humanidad, presidiO nuestra Asocia-ciOn durante los Ultimos diez anos, es decir,desde el Congreso de Londres en 1968. Almismo tiempo que el Dr. Convit fue electoPresidente, yo lo fui como miembro del Con-sejo Ejecutivo de la ILA, y durante diez anosmarcados por los Congresos de Bergen y deMexico, asi como en muchos otras actividadesinvolucradas con la AsociaciOn, fue un placertrabajar junto a un presidente tan amable y tanexperimentado; asimismo, junto con un secre-

tario general, tan dedicado y tan eficaz comoes el Dr. Stanley Browne, y con los otrosmiembros del Consejo.

Dr. Convit, los contactos que hemos tenidodurante estos diez aims, y desde muchos anosmas que nos conocemos, seguramente meayudaran mucho en este nuevo y dificil cargoque estoy desempenando. El hecho de queusted vaya a permanecer como consejero de laILA durante los cinco anos prOximos, seraunit garantia mas de la continuation de suobra. I am also looking forward to the contin-uous assistance of our Secretary, Dr. StanleyG. Browne. Let me assure you, Stanley, thatyour experience will be immensely valuable inhelping me to assume this new task. Thankyou very much for having accepted.

This is a very important time for leprosyand for the ILA. During the last 45 years, theInternational Leprosy Association, throughits congresses and through the publication ofthe INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEPROSY, hasplayed a major role in promoting interest inleprosy, in circulating ideas, research and

47, 2 (Suppl.)^ Closing Ceremonies^ 277

results, and also in serving as a link betweenall categories of leprosy workers and scientistsinvolved in leprosy research, in fact all thoseinterested in leprosy around the world. It is tobe expected that the dynamic role of the ILAwill continue as in the past and whenever pos-sible will increase. In this respect, I hope tokeep the happy cooperation among the threelanguage groups that we have experienced

r‘ here in Mexico.The world of leprosy is changing fast today.

The everlasting game between the bacillus andthe environment is playing new tricks whichare severely challenging to well-establishedmethods of leprosy control. Research is at aturning point. It might be that new fast-actingdrugs or a vaccine will be developed. How-ever, even if this is not for tomorrow or theday after tomorrow, what is quite new, mostimportant, and most encouraging are the wideefforts made by a number of scientists, inmany countries, most of them members of theILA, to pool resources and expertise andpursue a cooperative research undertakingunder WHO-TDR special program sponsor-ship, IM M LEP and THELEP.

In endemic countries, leprosy control ismore and more becoming a national responsi-bility. Governments are concerned with thehealth of their peoples. This also means that

0 leprosy has to be viewed in its 'proper context,as one important disease among others whichequally require a fair share of the existingresources. It is also increasingly realized thatleprosy is only a facet of the global problem ofpoverty faced by so many countries. Beyondpurely medical measures, these problemsrequire social and economic choices for theirsolution.

Last but not least, I want to mention theincreasing importance of voluntary agenciesboth in the fight against leprosy as well as forthe relief of sufferers of the disease. Theseagencies are making and will, we hope, con-tinue to bring a significant contribution toleprosy, not only in terms of providing moneyand services but also in terms of taking newinitiatives, extending moral support, chang-ing current approaches and educating thepublic at large. It calls for a close cooperationwith WHO, of which, may I remind you, the

• International Leprosy Association is a recog-nized affiliated non-governmental organiza-tion and with WHO regional offices. It callsfor a strengthening and enlightened coopera-

tion with voluntary agencies concerned withleprosy, especially ILEP, the Federation ofantileprosy associations and also withnational leprosy associations in endemiccountries; these could possibly require explor-ing some new type of relation. In my opinion,strengthening the links with national associa-tions against leprosy or stimulating their crea-tion where they do not yet exist couldfacilitate the cooperation already existingbetween the various organizations andincrease the efficiency of their action.

In this respect, I am looking forward to aclose cooperation with the Indian LeprosyAssociation, Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh, forthe preparation of the next congress in NewDelhi. It seems particularly timely that thiscongress, which will make the fiftieth anniver-sary of the creation of the International Lepro-sy Association, will be held in a country whereleprosy remains a great challenge. We shall doour best to make this congress a new success,with the help of the Indian Local OrganizingCommittee, and with the guidance of the Pre-sidential Advisory Committee for the TwelfthInternational Congress.

Puisque nous parlons des orientationsfutures de l'Association Internationale Contrela Lepre, dans la ligne de la grande traditioninauguree voici 45 ans par Marchoux, it est unautre point sur lequel je voudrais insister. Lemalade de la lepre, avec sa detresse, sesangoisses, son abandon, toujours fut present al'esprit, non seulement de ceux qui oeuvrent etse devouent sur le terrain, mais aussi des cher-cheurs qui dans leur anonymat de leurs labo-ratoires s'efforcaient de mettre au point denouveaux outils pour lutter contre la maladie.Aujourd'hui cependant, on prend de plus enplus conscience qu'il n'est point possible devaincre la lepre sans considerer le problemdans son entiCrete, dans la complexite de sesrepercussions sociales et economiques, dansses aspects humains avec touter les ramifica-tions que ceci comporte. Ce Congres aaccords une grande importance aux aspectssociaux de la lepre. Un Atelier, fut speciale-ment consacre a etudier les aspects humainsdu traitement des malades. Souhaitons que lesrecommandations qui furent emises aidentchacune d'entre nous a promouvoir dans lesconditions diverses rencontrees dans nos dif-ferents pays, un lutte contre la ICpre adapt&au contexte local. Ce qui sera un gage desusses.

278^ International Journal of Leprov^ 1979

N'oublions jamais toutefois que la lepre,probleme douloureux s'il en est, et atteint desmillions d'hommes et de femmes, n'est dansbiens des pays qu'un probleme de sante parmid'autres: malaria, et autres affections tropi-cales majeures, tuberculose, mortalite infan-tile, cecite, et surtout malnutrition, parfoisfamine. N'oublions pas de meme que la santeou la maladie n'est qu'un probleme, parmi lesproblemes multiples poses par le sous-developpement. Comme le disait Raoul Folle-reau: "A travers la lepre, soigner toutes leslepres."

La lutte contre Ia lepre, pour devenir unsucces, dolt etre menee en harmonic avec ('-ensemble des autres activites de sante. Cecivaut egalement pour Ia recherche, ou nousavons tout a gagner de rapport d'autres disci-plines.

Enfin, avant de conclure, je voudrais expri-mer toute mon admiration et mes sentimentsd'affection a l'organisateur de ce Congres,celui qui nous a convie ici, a Mexico, dans ceprestigieux pays ou se rencontrent trois civili-sations, a l'ami: Professor Latapi - it ne m'estnul besoin de recourir a l'espagnol pour m'ad-resser a vous, car vous parlez le francaiscomme votre langue - je voudrais vous repetercombien nous vous sommes reconnaissants devotre accueil, vous dire merci, et vousdemander de partager nos sentiments de grati-tude avec tous nos collegues mexicains, etparticulierement avec les membres du ComiteOrganisateur Local, pour le merveilleux tra-vail qu'ils ont accompli et qui ont permis defaire de ce Congres un reel succes. Muchasgracias a todos. A tous, bonne chance. TillNew Delhi, 1983.

DECLARATORIA DE CLAUSURADr. Fernando [atop,

Presidente del Congreso

Despues de agradecer una vez mits a todos los pa rticipantes, de acuerdo con el programa mecorresponde como Presidente del Congreso !lacer la declaratoria de clausura de este evento quenos dejard recuerdos imborrables, hoy, 18 de noviembre de 1978.

CLOSING STATEMENTDr. Fernando [atop

President of the Congress

After expressing thanks once again to all of the participants, in accordance with the program,it is my duty as the President of the Congress to announce today, November 18, 1978, theclosing of this event which will leave us with indelible memories.

LA DECLARATION DE CONCLUSION- Dr. Fernando [atop,

President du Congres

Apres avoir exprime les remerciements de nouveau a tous les participants, scion le pro-gramme, it me faut comme President du Congres annoncer, aujourd'hui le 18 novembre 1978, lafin de cet evenement qui va nous laisser des memoires ineffacables.