INTOUCH
Gillian meeting Ajay at Naini Hospital in India.
Welcome
It is always a joy to invite you to read inTouch and stay informed about the incredible impact you help make possible through your prayers and generous support.
back to life and feeling the sun’s warmth reminds me of renewal and hope. Spring is one of my favourite seasons—watching the garden come
In many ways, that’s exactly what the Leprosy Mission’s work brings: renewal in body, mind, community, and spirit. The warmth of your compassion, paired with God’s unconditional love, brings comfort and acceptance to people affected by leprosy.
For many, it’s not just the physical symptoms that cause the greatest pain, but the burden of stigma. To know you are loved is one of the most powerful and healing experiences in the world.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” Ephesians 3:18
On pages 4 to 5, you’ll find the latest update on Kamal and his Cure One journey. Kamal has a beautiful, close-knit family. His bright smile reflects the joy he feels when they are all together. For years, his father had no choice but to leave home for months at a time to find work.
Now, thanks to your support, the family will receive training in animal husbandry and budgeting, preparing them for the arrival of goats, chickens, and a cow— vital resources that will provide both food and a sustainable income.
We’re also excited to introduce you to Ajay, our new Cure One Ambassador. I had the privilege of meeting Ajay in India this year and spent time with him at the Leprosy Mission Hospital while he was having a regular check-up.
He had suffered a serious burn to his hand—an injury he didn’t even notice at the time due to a loss of sensation. This led to ulceration and delayed reconstructive surgery.
It’s a powerful reminder of what we often call “the gift of pain”—our body’s way of signalling that something needs attention. Without it, injuries can go unnoticed and worsen. That’s why early detection and treatment are critical—and why we are so committed to reaching our ambitious goal of No Child with leprosy by 2035.
Thank you for walking alongside us in this journey of love, restoration, and hope. Your continued support makes all the difference.
God Bless,
Gillian Whitley
Kamal Restored
Over the past year, we have kept you updated with Kamal’s progress. Just one year ago, Kamal’s face was swollen with painful leprosy patches. His eyes were nearly shut, his airways inflamed, and his little body carried one of the highest bacterial loads doctors at Anandaban Hospital had ever seen.
But today—by God’s grace and through the love and prayers of faithful Cure One supporters like you—Kamal’s life is transformed.
When Kamal arrived at the hospital, fearful and gasping for breath, his family believed he was cursed by a snake god. They travelled over rough terrain by bus for five hours to reach the hospital in desperation. There, they were gently told the truth: Kamal wasn’t cursed—he had leprosy, a disease that can be cured.
Through your generosity, Kamal received immediate care: life-saving Multi-Drug Therapy, nutrition support, and counselling for his whole family. And now, nearly a year later, he is cured of leprosy and joyfully back home with his family.
A New Chapter Begins
Today, thanks to your love and support, Kamal is back at school with a spring in his step. He walks hand in hand with his dad and little sister, picking up friends along the way. He has a close-knit group of best friends, and although he’s a little shy with strangers, he’s quick to stand up for himself—especially when teased about school marks!
Kamal still faces challenges. His father works far away in the city as a construction worker and is only able to visit every few months.
This has also taken a toll on Kamal’s mother, who finds it quite difficult to manage the household and look after two young children.
A Hopeful Solution
There is a practical, sustainable solution within reach. With the continued commitment from our Cure One supporters, the Leprosy Mission team in Nepal is working to expand their animal husbandry programme By providing goats, chickens, and a buffalo, we can give families like Kamal’s a way to produce their own food—fresh milk, eggs, and meat—helping them stay healthy and wellnourished.
But it doesn’t stop there. These animals could also be a source of income, as surplus milk, eggs, and meat could be sold at local markets. This extra income would help cover essentials like school fees, clothing, and medical care.
Most importantly, it would mean Kamal’s father could stay home, care for his wife and children, and work on the land instead of having to seek labour far away.
With God’s help and your continued love, we can ensure that Kamal is not only free from leprosy, but able to live a full, healthy life— with his family by his side.
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to Kamal and so many others!
Thank you for journeying with little Kamal in the past year.
Your love and compassion ensure that Kamal can look forward to a future filled with joy and hope.
As your personal Cure One contact, Diane is here to help you as you Cure, Care for and Restore someone living with leprosy like Kamal.
Call or contact Diane with any questions or to discuss various secure payment methods, or just to talk about how good it is to set people free from leprosy.
Call Diane at (09) 631 1800 or 022 304 5154 or freephone 0800 862 873; alternatively email: diane.simpson@leprosymission.org.nz What a wonderful way to achieve a world without leprosy. One child at a time.
Ajay begins his Cure One Journey
At just 11 years old, Ajay should be running through fields, playing with friends, and learning, dreaming freely about his future. But for this bright young boy from India, the harsh grip of leprosy has already stolen much of his childhood.
Ajay lives in a bustling household of 15. His father works long hours as a hotel cook, and his mother stays home to care for the family.
With limited income and poor access to healthcare, they do their best to provide. But poverty leaves no margin for illness and leprosy thrives in those conditions.
Ajay’s leprosy began quietly—just patches of numbness on Ajay’s hands. His family, unaware of what it meant, turned to a local healer. But the so-called treatments only deepened their hardship and delayed proper care.
By the time they reached help, Ajay’s leprosy had already caused irreversible damage.
The nerves in Ajay’s hands have lost sensation, never to return. His fingers curled into claws. He could not hold a cup or grip a pencil.
Even more devastating, he no longer feels pain—the very gift that warns us of danger.
As his hands lost sensation, Ajay lost his protective sense of pain. One day, Ajay placed his hand in boiling water without realising it. He felt nothing as his skin blistered.
Then came a turning point.
Thankfully, a kind neighbour guided Ajay’s family to The Leprosy Mission Naini Hospital.
At the hospital, Ajay finally received a correct diagnosis and began the essential Multi-Drug Therapy to stop the disease’s progression.
Ajay has already undergone one surgery, and when Gillian met him earlier this year, he was in the middle of another, this time for a stubborn ulcer.
Cure, Care, Restore
Ajay’s journey is just beginning, but hope is rising.
Ajay still dreams of his future in meaningful work, helping others who suffer just as he did. And
If you would like to become a Cure One supporter, please visit www.cureone.org.nz or phone Diane at (09) 631 1800 or email Diane.Simpson@leprosymission.org.nz with God’s grace, and the love and support of Cure One supporters, that dream is possible.
CALLING ALL KIND-HEARTED KNITTERS – WE NEED YOU!
With proper care, surgery and support, Ajay may once again hold a pencil, return to school, and reclaim the life leprosy tried to steal.
There’s so much that can be achieved through Cure One. And together, we can make sure Ajay’s leprosy will not steal his future.
For just $20 a month, you can Cure One like Ajay, helping them live free from the stigma and physical effects of leprosy.
What a wonderful way to bring us closer to a world without leprosy, one child at a time.
Over the coming year, we will share his progress with you.
Do you love to knit? Join our Little Angels and use your skills to make a difference in the lives of people affected by leprosy!
We are blessed that the wonderful Kathy Tanner coordinates Little Angels and she is looking for 12 new knitters to continue the beautiful legacy of those who’ve served faithfully for decades.
As a Little Angels knitter, you’ll create soft, hand-knitted baby garments like caps, mittens, bootees and bonnets. These are sold in retail stores across New Zealand, with all proceeds supporting the Leprosy Mission’s life-changing work.
All you need is a willing heart, some time to spare, and a love for knitting!
Here’s how it works:
1. Start by knitting a sample (cap, mittens, or bootees) and send it in for assessment.
2. Once quality assessed, you’ll receive 10 balls of merino wool and a set of easy-to-follow patterns.
3. Knit at your own pace and return the garments to the specific PO Box that will be provided.
4. We take care of the final touches (buttons, bows, and labels) before the items go on sale to help those in need.
To get started or learn more, contact Kathy Tanner by calling 027 289 0039 or emailing kathytannerkt226@gmail.com
Transforming Lives Through Water
In many parts of Papua New Guinea, especially along the coastlines of Central Province, access to clean, safe water remains a daily struggle.
The area can face up to seven months of dry season each year, leading to severe water scarcity. In the past, students regularly missed classes to collect water from distant rivers.
This not only affected their learning but also exposed them to unsafe drinking water and increased health risks, particularly for children affected by leprosy or disability, whose needs are even more vulnerable when clean water is unavailable.
In the heart of Papua New Guinea’s Central Province, communities in Lomare are standing stronger against the impacts of climate change thanks to your support for The Leprosy Mission PNG.
Programme (CCRP), in partnership with MFAT and The Leprosy Mission PNG, vital infrastructure and hope have flowed into some of the region’s most vulnerable schools and health facilities.
A Lifeline in the Dry Season: Safe Water at St. Margaret’s
St. Margaret’s Catholic Primary and Elementary School in Lomare was facing a harsh reality. Long dry seasons, which lasted up to seven months, had left students and the surrounding community without reliable access to clean water. But that changed when CCRP stepped in.
The team in PNG was able to drill a borehole and install a pump-powered water distribution system, providing sustainable access to groundwater. Two large 9,000-litre tanks now feed three dedicated taps — one each for younger and older students, and another for teachers and the wider community.
For students like Belinda, a 17-year-old who completed treatment for leprosy, this has been life-changing.
Strengthening Healthcare Services in Rural Clinics
The impact didn’t stop at schools. CCRP also delivered major upgrades at the local health facilities, where access to water was critically limited.
Now, healthcare workers can offer safe, dignified care, serving more than 800 people in the communities.
The functional water systems ensure clean water supplies during nine-month droughts. The improvements have strengthened healthcare delivery and made local communities more resilient in the face of an unpredictable climate.
Building Confidence for the Future
“Now, I don’t have to worry about missing classes to collect water,” she says. Her father, Peter, expressed his deep gratitude: “All I wanted was for Belinda to finish school.”
A Ripple Effect of Change
Headmaster Mark has seen firsthand how the new water system is transforming lives. “Students used to spend hours walking to rivers for water,” he said.
“Now, they attend full days of school, bring water to class, and can wash their hands. Hygiene has improved, and school attendance is up—especially for students affected by disability and leprosy.”
The system is also improving sanitation and reducing the spread of waterborne diseases. And beyond the school gates, the local community is benefiting too.
Families no longer risk illness from untreated river water or spend hours collecting and boiling it. Plans are already underway to expand storage capacity for future needs.
Thank you for your interest in our work in Papua New Guinea. Your prayers and trust give us the encouragement to grow and continue serving communities in PNG and across the Pacific. The CCRP has done more than installing water systems — it has restored dignity, protected health, and given students and families renewed hope and confidence for the future.
CCRP is operating in 15 communities in Papua New Guinea, strengthening the work of PHACE (Preventative Health and Community Empowerment) Programme.
Aneeta’s Journey: From Weeping Eyes to Hope
You may remember Aneeta, a young woman whose journey we shared with you in 2023. Thanks to you for your kindness and compassion, Aneeta no longer sees only darkness and despair. Today, she looks toward the future with renewed hope—beyond the pain of leprosy and the threat of blindness.
Aneeta was just nine years old when her life took a painful turn. A bout of typhoid fever left her completely blind. As if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, leprosy struck her a few years later—going undiagnosed for over a decade. By the time she received treatment, the disease had already taken its toll, leaving her with severe deformities in both her hands and feet.
She and her mother lived together in a crowded slum in Chattogram, Bangladesh, barely scraping by. Her mother is now nearly 70 and worked long hours as a cleaner, earning only a few dollars a week to cover rent and food.
Aneeta, blind and disabled, had no chance of education or employment. She listened to other children reciting lessons through the thin tin walls of her tiny home, her heart aching to belong, to learn, to hope.
When her wounds became life-threatening, local hospitals couldn’t treat her, but you stepped in.
Through your generous support, Aneeta was finally admitted to a specialist leprosy hospital, where her severe and complex ulcers were treated over five long months.
You made it possible for her to receive vital medication, custom-made protective footwear, and counselling that helped restore her confidence and peace of mind.
But your impact didn’t end there.
Because of you, Aneeta was able to access a government disability allowance, giving her much-needed financial stability. Through your support, she has found new dignity, independence, and hope for the future.
Her tears haven’t disappeared entirely— but now, more often than not, they are tears of gratitude. Aneeta shared:
“I am so thankful for all you’ve done. You gave me treatment, care, shoes to protect my feet, and someone to encourage me. I still depend on others for many things—but now, I don’t feel forgotten.”
Your kindness has turned a life of sorrow into one of possibility.
Thank you for being the advocate she so desperately needed—for helping her to see, not with her eyes, but with her heart, that she is deeply loved and not alone.
Because of you, Aneeta is no longer hidden in the shadows of poverty, disability, and despair.
Because of you, she has a future.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2024
Thanks to your ongoing support, the Leprosy Mission NZ remains committed to curing, caring for and restoring people affected by leprosy.
Thanks to supporters like you, we had an incredible financial year in 2024. You helped raise $7,891,095 last year.
We were able to meet all of our project commitments as well as provide extra funding for vital research and support leprosy work in Niger and Zambia.
81.1% of the money expended was on our programmes.
That’s thousands of people affected by leprosy receiving MDT (multidrug therapy), hospital care, surgery, counselling, physiotherapy, vocational training, self-help group support and preventative health awareness.
Where the money goes
THANKS TO YOU
3,232
people identified as close contacts of people diagnosed with leprosy and received one dose of Rifampicin in New Zealand supported projects.
1,968
new leprosy cases were diagnosed and are placed on multi-drug therapy treatment in New Zealand supported projects.
1,043
people received ulcer treatment and reconstructive surgery in New Zealand supported projects.
6,676
people received physiotherapy in New Zealand supported projects.
2,480
pairs of protective sandals were provided in New Zealand supported projects.
3,250
people in self-help groups in New Zealand supported projects.
1,984
people were trained in advocacy, leadership, and rights in New Zealand supported projects.
Cure One Supporter’s
Journey to India
When Nigel from Taranaki phoned in to donate during Rhema Cure One Day last year, he never imagined it would lead to a life-changing experience. Just 24 hours later, he discovered he’d been selected in The Leprosy Mission’s giveaway trip for a supporter to see the work up close.
In May 2025, Nigel and his wife Aleena, a nurse, travelled with Gillian to India and witnessed firsthand how Cure One supporters’ gifts bring healing, hope, and transformation.
From speaking with dedicated health professionals, to meeting people affected by leprosy, to visiting community projects that restore dignity and livelihoods, Nigel and Aleena saw the incredible impact of generosity in action.
Witnessing Mercy in Action
Amid the hustle and bustle of New Delhi’s busy streets, Nigel and Aleena journeyed to Naini Leprosy Mission Hospital. There, they spent three unforgettable days immersed in the heart of the Mission’s work.
“It’s difficult to put into words the depth of what we experienced,” says Nigel.
“What struck us most was the mercy, love, and compassion shown to every single person who came through the hospital gates. The Mission lives out its calling in every action, every encounter.”
“Coming from a long healthcare career in New Zealand, I was deeply moved and at times confronted by how much could be done with what, to our eyes, seemed like so little. And yet, the impact was extraordinary,” Aleena added.
“We had the privilege of speaking with patients receiving treatment — many of them now healing, hopeful, and looking toward a future that once seemed impossible. Their stories were humbling. We also observed surgical procedures up close - an eye-opening experience! (Some of us handled it better than others!)”
Equipping Lives Beyond Healing
From Naini, they then travelled to the Leprosy Mission Faizabad Hospital. This journey was a cultural adventure on its own. Then, the moment they arrived, they were overwhelmed by a heartfelt welcome from staff and students at the mission’s Vocational Training Centre.
“They had formed a guard of honour for us — an honour we felt should have been theirs.”
“It felt like the roles were reversed. We came to learn and witness, yet we were received like heroes. The truth is — they are the ones doing the heroic work.”
“At the Centre, we saw how the Leprosy Mission’s work extends far beyond medical treatment. Young people affected by leprosy — either directly or through family — are trained in practical skills to support themselves and build independent futures. Whether it’s tailoring, IT, or electrical work, these courses offer a new beginning.”
Hope for the Next Generation
“One of the most memorable parts of our trip was meeting students involved in a local children’s Parliament programme. These bright, articulate children spoke about their dreams, their rights, and the changes they want to bring to their communities.”
“These young leaders left us speechless. Empowered, educated, and full of vision— this is what real, sustainable change looks like.”
“We returned home profoundly changed. What we saw in India was not only the devastating reality of leprosy, but the extraordinary hope that exists when people are seen, healed, and equipped.”
“We are now more committed than ever to supporting the Leprosy Mission—both prayerfully and practically. If you’ve ever wondered whether your donation makes a difference, we can tell you with certainty: It does.”
“It was the privilege of a lifetime. We thought we were going to witness change—we didn’t realise we’d be changed too.”
Become a Cure One supporter today from just $20 a month
Ajay’s young body has been devastated by a deadly mix of leprosy and severe poverty. Leprosy has already inflicted lifelong harm - and now poverty is putting his chance for a cure at grave risk. Ajay’s family would not be able to afford the much-needed Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) to cure his leprosy.
Ajay is at the very first step of a year-long climb through Cure, Care and Restore. He cannot do this alone. He needs someone like you to say, “ Yes, I will Cure One like Ajay.”
Please join Cure One today and give someone like Ajay their year of the Lord’s favour. A time to heal. A year to set them free from leprosy.
Please scan QR code, call or email: 0800 862 873
leprosymission.org.nz/CureOne
