New Day January 2020

England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

New Day WINTER 2020

You’ve put a smile on Ranil’s face!

See pages 2–3 for the children YOU have cured

2

It is only because of you that this work is possible

Dear friend I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year and every blessing for 2020.

I am always saddened to see how leprosy affects young, innocent lives. I often think of four-year-old Ranil who you can see on the front cover of this edition of New Day. Until meeting Ranil in Sri Lanka, I have never seen a child struggle to smile. It was heartbreaking to witness the sadness in his eyes.

Ranil was cured of leprosy aged three. But even by then the disease had weakened his small body and left numb patches on his face, arms and legs. He lives at risk of injuring himself and becoming disabled.

It is thanks to your generosity that Ranil and his mum Prasanthi are cured of leprosy. Your donations have provided nourishing food parcels to help restore them to health. A new well has also been constructed near their home giving them fresh, clean water.

Our team will be paying a visit to the nursery school that has refused Ranil a place because he had leprosy. They will explain he is now cured and won’t make the other children ill. Prasanthi is overjoyed to see Ranil playing football again and smiling!

You made this happen and I thank God for you every day. I hope you are as excited to read the stories of these beautiful children from Sri Lanka as I was to meet them! Our prayer is that we will be able to reach out to and cure many more.

Thank you for being the blessing you are.

Peter Waddup National Director

Visually impaired? Please let us know if you would like our resources in a different format

Your support cures and heals children from leprosy s

Kavina

Fasmina was diagnosed with leprosy when a medical screening programme visited her village. Its medical team noticed patches on her face and a skin smear confirmed leprosy. She was immediately given multidrug therapy, the cure for leprosy.

iskran

r and Ha

Thank you for responding with great generosity to Kavinas and Hariskran’s story. By the time 11-year-old Kavinas received the cure for leprosy, he was left with numb patches all over his body. These patches leave him open to injury because he can’t feel pain.

But perhaps more upsetting, a teacher then threw him out of school because he was taking the cure for leprosy. Just imagine how rejected this little boy would’ve felt. A member of our team was able to convince the headteacher that Kavinas was not infectious or cursed.

It is so heart warming that Kavinas is now back at school, despite the teacher resigning over the decision.

Kavinas’s seven-year-old brother, Hariskran, was then diagnosed with leprosy. But thanks to you, Hariskran has been cured and suffers no lasting effects. The boys are even closer as a result of what they have been through and now share a love of cricket!

Anil

Fasmina cried when she learned she had leprosy because she feared becoming disabled. Her mother says Fasmina was saved by the screening programme that your gifts funded. They are both so grateful to you!

a Fasmin

You may remember young Anil from back in 2016. Anil is now 12 and had a tough early childhood. But, thanks to you, life has got much better!

Anil’s father disappeared during the conflict in Sri Lanka.

His mother left the family home when Anil was seven.

This was shortly before Anil was diagnosed with leprosy.

The family still don’t know why she left, but suspect it was because of Anil’s leprosy.

Anil adores his grandparents who he lives with.

Anil is a shining example of what can happen when leprosy is treated early. Today he is fit and well and wants to be a police officer when he leaves school. You provided food parcels to strengthen Anil’s young body while it fought leprosy. You also helped his grandparents by giving the gift of a well so that they have fresh, clean water.

You also gave them coconut and banana trees. Thank you!

‘The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.

He helps me and my heart is filled with joy.’

Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

Contact us on 01733 370505 email post@TLMEW.org.uk

3

4

It is only because of you that this work is possible

Thank you for transfor Purulia Hospital in India is a very special place as it is The Leprosy Mission’s oldest hospital. It first cared for a dozen leprosy patients in two mud huts more than 130 years ago. Thanks to you, a new Outpatients’ Department has opened at the hospital! Staff are now equipped to love and treat the 50,000 patients coming through its doors each year. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity to the Transform Purulia campaign in 2017.

P

urulia Hospital is like an oasis in the desert for thousands of people living across a vast area of India. These are people who usually cannot afford healthcare. Purulia Hospital’s reputation precedes it and people with leprosy will travel for days to reach the hospital. This is after hearing of the care and kindness shown by its skilled staff.

Up until now 400 people a day crammed into the tiny waiting room where they often stayed for many hours to see a doctor. No one was turned away but it was an uncomfortable wait in sometimes unbearable heat. As you can imagine, it was especially difficult for people with disabilities.

It was wonderful to see the joy of the two doctors at the opening of the brand new Outpatients’ Department. The new department with its spacious waiting area and six new consultation rooms will allow patients to be examined with dignity. There are also two minor procedure rooms a pharmacy, toilet block and two lab areas.

Dr Famkima Darlong and Dr Joydeepa Darlong at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Outpatients’ Department in 2017

The first leprosy patients at Purulia Hospital around 1900

For many years Dr Famkima Darlong and his wife Dr Joydeepa Darlong ran Purulia Hospital.

Dr Fam once joked that there was no privacy for patients in the old Outpatients’ Department. “If a patient had an itch, they couldn’t tell the doctor where it was without 50 people listening,” he said.

He continued in a more serious tone: “Why should a leprosy hospital be small and dark? Why shouldn’t people with leprosy have a good building?”

Contact us on 01733 370505

Your support reaches India’s rejected people

5

rming Purulia Hospital!

As Dr Fam told the crowds “People in the UK have transformed Purulia Hospital. God heard the prayers of our hearts and He has blessed this hospital. God’s plans are to prosper.”

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever.’

Dr Joydeepa added: “Our hearts are overwhelmed when we think of God’s goodness.

We asked for a little and He filled our cup up until it spilled over the brim.”

From dream to reality An artist’s impression of the Outpatients’ Department created in 2017 to the official opening of the new building in November 2019.

You made this happen!

email post@TLMEW.org.uk

1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)

6

It is only because of you that this work is possible

Hospital

Heroes

Without you, our beloved partners in the fight against leprosy, our specialist medical teams across the globe simply wouldn’t exist. Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital in Myanmar has been treating patients for 120 years. Day after day Hospital Heroes go above and beyond for patients like Ko who you can read all about on page 8.

Thank you for being a vital link in a chain of love and care by providing the Hospital Heroes you can read about here.

Dr Roma, doctor

H

ospital Heroes like Dr Roma work tirelessly. Their clinical training would allow them to earn much bigger salaries elsewhere. But they say they feel called to serve people affected by leprosy. In 2003 Dr Roma felt God prompting her to work at Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital. But at first she didn’t want to go! When she prayed she told God “I’m not going there” but when she said “Amen” she felt uneasy.

God had big plans for Dr Roma and kept prompting her to go to Mawlamyine until she listened to His call! The hospital is blessed to have Dr Roma working there but, at 70 years old, she will need to retire sometime soon. This is why more Hospital Heroes like Dr Roma are urgently needed.

Contact us on 01733 370505

Zaw, ulcer dresser

Z

aw has a family member who has been cared for at Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital. This is very common among the staff team. Zaw sees his job dressing patients’ ulcers as a way of repaying the kindness shown to his father.

Your support reaches those needing it the very most

Zaw said he enjoys assisting the doctors and nurses by playing a role in a patient’s healing process. He says he tries to encourage them while dressing their ulcers. “If they cry, I cry with them and if they laugh, I laugh with them,” he said.

Daw Khin and Htee Khy, nurses

D

aw Khin (left) and Htee Khy both work as nurses at Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital. Daw Khin said she wanted to give back to the hospital that cared for her husband, father and grandfather.

To her the hospital feels like a big family.

Htee Khy said she sometimes struggles hearing the heartbreak her patients have experienced. So many have been rejected by their families because of leprosy.

“We get our strength from God,” she said. “It makes me happy when I see the patients come in with their family even when the community has rejected them.

When they are well again it is heartening to see them go home together.”

email post@TLMEW.org.uk

7

8

It is only because of you that this work is possible

Will you throw a lifeline to someone like Ko? Ko would’ve lost his remaining leg and job if it wasn’t for Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital.

He is 43 but still able to work as a driver despite losing his right leg because of leprosy. Ko desperately needs to care for his left leg that he can no longer feel since leprosy badly damaged the nerves.

had to amputate Ko’s leg to save his life. Many people in Myanmar know, deep down, they have leprosy. But they do nothing about it as they are simply too afraid of the consequences.

Prejudice surrounding leprosy is rife. What happens if their family find out? How could they survive if they are sacked from their job?

Can you imagine carrying such a heavy burden and having nowhere to turn?

If it wasn’t for Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital, there would be nowhere else for Ko to go. He would never be able to pay for treatment. Ko wanted you to know that “The doctors at this hospital are like my family. I am so grateful. God bless you.”

Seven years ago the father-oftwo ignored the early symptoms of leprosy. He developed a large ulcer on his foot but had to carry on working to survive. Anxiety grew when he started dragging his right leg as he walked. But, he said, he was working so hard to support his wife and two children that he had to ignore it.

It costs just £25 to provide a specialist leprosy doctor for a day. A week’s medical care at the hospital costs £67, or £120 provides life-changing surgery.

When he was finally diagnosed and treated for leprosy, medics Response panel - Jan 2020.qxp_Layout 1 16/12/2019 19:13 Page 1

My gift to provide life-changing care to someone like Ko

I’m sending my one-off gift of: £25 £67

First name Surname Address

£120

If you are sending your own amount please complete the box below. Thank you.

My own amount of:

£

I enclose a cheque/postal order payable to ‘The Leprosy Mission’ Or please debit my:

Postcode

Visa MasterCard CAF Card Maestro

Card no.:

Telephone We love keeping in touch with you, but if you would like to change how you hear from us, or request our privacy policy, simply call us on 01733 370505 or email post@TLMEW.org.uk Please send me information on how to leave a legacy of love to The Leprosy Mission.

(Maestro only)

/ Start Date (if available): Expiry Date: Issue No.: (Maestro only) Security code: Signature: Date:

We will use your gifts to bring help to people affected by leprosy around the world.

Registered Charity No.1050327. A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No. 3140347

/

Email:

Boost your donation with Gift Aid – simply agree to the statement below: Please treat all donations I have made to The Leprosy Mission for the four years prior to this donation, and all future donations I make, as Gift Aid donations. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my charitable donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

Donate online: www.leprosymission.org.uk/donate

The Leprosy Mission, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5GZ

The Leprosy Mission England and Wales

@leprosytalk

20ND1

England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

/