On 27 January, more than 100 countries, including the UK, will join together in marking World Leprosy Day.

Millions of people around the world suffer from leprosy yet there is little awareness of the disease in Western countries where many have the misconception that it is simply an ancient biblical disease.

Leprosy Mission said the disease was also a human rights issue because of the "terrible social exclusion" that its sufferers face. This can take the shape of unemployment, exclusion from the community or divorce.

Sufferers are also often made to believe they have been cursed and therefore hide their symptoms for as long as possible. This in turn increases the risk of irreversible disfigurement and disabilities, intensifying discrimination.

"In spite of this, we believe that people affected by leprosy are very high on God's agenda," the agency said.

Leprosy Mission and many other organisations around the world working with sufferers will use World Leprosy Day as an opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of people affected by leprosy.

Rupert Haydock, national director for The Leprosy Mission England and Wales said, "We should remember World Leprosy Day on the 27th because it is still a serious problem for millions of people, and yet it is an issue that the West has quite literally forgotten about."

Churches across the UK will run a special collection on Sunday 27 January and focus on leprosy in their Sunday services.

The Leprosy Mission has produced free promotional materials to help churches, groups and schools raise awareness of leprosy in the approach to World Leprosy Day. These include posters, leaflets, prayer cards and PowerPoint presentations.

For more information go to www.leprosymission.org.uk/