CIOMAL

THE RIGHT TO BE SEEN, AND HEARD

Beauty contestants at the CIOMAL (Campagne Internationale de l’Ordre de Malte contre la Lèpre) Foundation open house show no fear nor blame in the face of leprosy. O n the last World Leprosy Day, the CIOMAL Foundation hits the poorest areas. More than 240,000 new cases are detected organised an open house in Phnom Penh where 200 every year, five per cent of which are children under the age of 15. visitors united, consisting of university students and Because it leaves marks on the skin, leprosy also results in social professors, national and international organisation representatives, exclusion, particularly in schools, workplaces, and health centres. as well as dozens of people affected by leprosy. A key player for more than 60 years, the CIOMAL Foundation

Opened in 2000 in the vicinity of Cambodian capital’s historic of the Order of Malta is active in Cambodia on several fronts: heart, the Kien Khleang Leprosy Rehabilitation Center was prevention and awareness raising, early detection of the disease, particularly busy that day. medical and surgical treatments, socio-economic rehabilitation,

At the start of the morning, CIOMAL members and patients local capacity building. Every year, CIOMAL provides around put together a light-hearted performance to convey one of the most 6000 people (of which 1500 are children) with free dermatological important messages about leprosy: that the disease can be cured and consultations. nothing justifies the stigmatisation of those affected. In 2018, CIOMAL opened a new orthopaedic department with

By way of demonstration, Miss Cambodia and her runners-up the aim to provide people affected by leprosy with orthopaedic paraded in the middle of the audience before having long exchanges shoes and sandals. This will help prevent further foot deformity, with persons affected by leprosy. protect foot ulcers, and correct the foot that has serious

Today, leprosy affects more than three million people (sick or deformations. This brand new workshop is equipped with staterecovering) around the world. This neglected tropical disease mostly of-the-art machines. Dr. Sophea, a former leprosy-affected person,

runs the clinic. Dr. Sophea has followed an intensive two-year training abroad to become a specialised orthopaedic shoemaker.

The CIOMAL Foundation also supported the creation of the first Cambodian association of persons with leprosy-related disabilities, a way to make their voices heard in Cambodia as well as at an international level. More than 758 persons affected by leprosy were treated, including 166 patients who received surgery. CIOMAL’s rehabilitation program helped 38 families secure microcredit, as well as dozens children receive scholarships. In addition, awareness-raising activities reached more than 50,000 garment workers in 12 factories.

Today, leprosy is 100 per cent curable with a medical treatment. But even when they are healed,

those who were affected often continue to suffer severe disabilities. Together with their families, they are excluded from society, lose their jobs and houses, are rejected by hospitals, or are unable to send their children to school. These multiple forms of exclusion represent serious violations of their fundamental rights.

CIOMAL works not only to eliminate leprosy from the world but also to put an end to the discrimination against those affected and their families. It is crucial that people carrying the marks of leprosy be perceived as “disabled persons” and not as “lepers” anymore. Your generous support helps them regain dignity and find their place in society. We thank you most sincerely for supporting us in our fight against this often-neglected disease.

Clockwise from top left: Miss Cambodia listening to leprosy sufferers; Early detection in the field; Fitting orthopaedic prosthetics; Raising awareness for World Leprosy Day; Housing constructed and donated by CIOMAL.