Strengthening Community-Based Groups for People Affected by Skin-NTDs: Lessons of the UPLIFT Project Webinar

Over the past several years, Community-Based Groups (CBGs) have become an increasingly important strategy for supporting people affected by leprosy and other skin-related NTDs. While these groups are widely recognized for their potential to improve self-care, inclusion, and well-being, there has been limited evidence on the operational features that make them most effective, sustainable, and scalable across different contexts. The UPLIFT study was designed to address this gap by testing a model that combines self-care, psychosocial support, group leadership, and connections to health and social services across programs in India, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia.

UPLIFT is generating practical resources and evidence that can help strengthen future CBG programming. This webinar from September 9th, 2026, shared key findings from the study and launched two resources: An Implementation Manual and Facilitation Guide for Community-Based Groups. Viewers will hear directly from implementing partners and people affected by skin NTDs about their experiences with the model and explore how the lessons from UPLIFT can support stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable community-based approaches, both within leprosy programmes and across the broader NTD sector.