Bridging the divide between health, social development and environmental interventions: an example from The Leprosy Mission

There is historically a divide between health and social development practitioners versus environmentalists, with one side seen to prioritise people and the other seen to prioritize nature. However, the wellbeing of humans and that of the environment are inextricably linked. This paper will use leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, as an example to show how disregard for the environment through anthropogenic caused climate change may threaten human health. Additionally, it will outline, through the example of The Leprosy Mission England and Wales and its partners, how environmental concerns can be integrated into health programmes with salutary outcomes for both health and environment.