To suffer from leprosy isn't to only suffer from a debilitating and often progressively mutilating condition. Leprosy-affected people are so often treated with rejection (shunned, marginalised, stigmatised and isolated) by society and local communities, are regarded differently (often with distaste, scorn or fear) by school friends, and even loved differently (or unloved, distanced, neglected and even rejected) by family.

Leprosy is still widespread. Hundreds of thousands of new cases globally are reported each year to WHO currently from 103 countries, though the majority of leprosy sufferers are found the world's poorest countries, mainly in South-east Asia, such as Nepal, and in Africa. Although leprosy is 100% curable- thanks to WHO's global strategy of multidrug therapy, and medical rehabilitative and community outreach efforts, nevertheless if diagnosed too late, once nerve damage has set in, loss of hands, eyes and feet is often still progressive, and leprosy affected children, teenagers, adults and elderly often suffer from being stigmatised, marginalised, unloved, isolated or outcast from family, school and community.

I am proud to support my parents who work at the Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre (www.nepal-leprosy.com) which is the service arm of the Nepal Leprosy Trust (www.nlt.org.uk), who are dedicating their time, energy, and expertise, at not only treating Leprosy sufferers from the disease and its symptoms, but creating an atmosphere where sufferers no longer feel dehumanised, but rather loved and valued, striving for their medical and socioeconomic rehabilitation, and also for educating local communities on the curability of the disease

Please help me support them through JustGiving. Its simple and safe and once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. 

Thanks