ACTION Magazine - World Leprosy Sunday

Close to the Indian border in Nepal, a young widow is now making an independent income and supporting her three children. And it’s all thanks to the loving kindness of supporters like you!

Urmila’s small mobile snack shop is positioned aside the main road leading to India. She opens from 2pm to 8pm daily and sees about 100 customers in that time. The passing crowd can take advantage of her homemade omelets and rice puff snacks. They can also purchase packaged snacks to take away on their travels.

Urmila’s children help her. Her eldest daughter also helps with cooking the family’s dinner whilst the shop is in operation. Business is thriving. Urmila hopes the savings she is making will ensure a dowry for her children when they grow older and marry.

It’s almost hard to believe that this young woman of independent means was once reluctant to not only borrow money to start the business but to even attend the local SelfHelp Group. But she was.

Urmila had married young and had 3 children. Then her husband passed away. She was left with no money and no income. When the IMPACT project Self-Help Groups first formed in her area, she was encouraged by the group facilitator to join. But she felt she was not in a position to do so. Especially since she did not have a job or any way of earning money at that time. However, Santosh, the project district coordinator, continued to encourage her.

Now Urmila has been constantly meeting her monthly repayments and has recently even increased her savings. She is pleased with her success. But she still has some worries and concerns. She told us that her shop is set up on land that is not hers and therefore, if the owner decides to retake the land, she will have to move. But for now, Urmila and her children can enjoy their prosperity and save for the future. And it all started with a gift of love from people like you!

Your love is empowering disadvantaged widows like Urmila. Thank you, for your kind heart.

hands and feet in ACTION in TIMOR-LESTE

Thanks to you, former leprosy patients in Timor-Leste are being trained in self-care and are receiving the essentials to keep them clean and protected.

Since COVID restrictions have lifted, your International Programs Officer, Eva Lee, has conducted a monitoring trip throughout villages in Manatuto. She is pleased to report on all the activities that are equipping people affected by leprosy to take care of themselves for a better quality of life.

“The self-care training is critical in ensuring that people affected by leprosy, particularly those who are experiencing numbness or loss of feeling, can check themselves for any visible damage. It is essential that they know how to clean and care for their hands and feet daily to help prevent infection, amputation, and permanent disability,” says Eva.

“In Manatuto there is a new and well-equipped community health centre in the village that treats primary health conditions –usually diarrhea and skin infections. But it is on the top of a hill. There is no road up there, so requires 4-wheel drive access or a nimble walk up a steep hill. Whilst the centre itself has ramp access, the steep hill and lack of road really makes the centre inaccessible to those with physical disabilities who do not have a car.

The self-care group training was held in an open pavilion in front of a small school, so was much more accessible for more people to be able to attend.

Each participant was provided with a wash basin, a bar of soap, a pumice stone and coconut oil. They practiced soaking their hands, washing, and applying the coconut oil. Some patients were also provided with gloves, a sun hat, knitted bandages and a pair of protective shoes, depending on their needs.

In this session pictured, The Leprosy Mission TimorLeste’s Medical Officer, Ella, was on hand to assist all the participants and check in on their current ailments.”

Thank you for your compassion for people affected by leprosy in Timor-Leste!

BREAKING NEWS IN INDIA!

How you are changing lives and limbs.

An artificial limb fitment and distribution camp was held in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, recently. 40 people, who had lost their lower limb(s) mainly due to leprosy and diabetes, received prosthetic legs. All thanks to compassionate people like you!

For these people, a prosthetic limb is not simply an artificial medical device, but a muchneeded aid in increasing functional mobility and independence. The celebration even got the attention of the local news!

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. You are ensuring people affected by leprosy and other disabilities have effective and easy-to-use orthotic and prosthetic devices.

God bless you!

Long distance and lack of means of transport are some of the major barriers that persons with disabilities face when it comes to accessing regular treatment.

Thanks to people like you, The Leprosy Mission Hospital in Kothara conducted home-based assessment of 143 people with disabilities in 13 hard-to-reach villages recently.

The physiotherapists from the hospital continued this assessment for an entire week.

Handing out prosthetic limbs left and right in Nigeria

Recently 28 people with disabilities received prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and crutches in Niger state to help them regain mobility and self-sufficiency.

The Head of Programmes and Operations, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Pius Ogbu Sunday said, “Although we address the concerns of people affected by, we have decided to develop our strategy to reach out to both people affected by leprosy and people with other forms of disabilities that may have been caused by either accident or diabetes.

“The provision of these assistive technologies for the current beneficiaries is a result of our collaboration with Australian supporters and their government who have graciously provided

funds for us to provide these limbs to the people who need them. The provision covered the cost of the limbs as well as catering for the transportation, feeding and testing of the beneficiaries.”

The Niger state Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Makunsidi, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Ibrahim Idris applauded The Leprosy Mission supporters for the gesture.

He said that they would no longer be dependent on their crutches or relatives as they would be independent and can move about freely.

One of the beneficiaries, Isah Usman who said he had an accident in February this year said life had not been easy for him as his two limbs were cut off.

He said that the prosthetic limbs would help him move about without depending on anybody and he appreciated The Leprosy Mission Nigeria and Australia for helping him walk again.

www.leprosymission.org.au hello@leprosymission.org.au

Thanks to people like you, Kothara Hospital reached 143 people with a disability!

Mohammed’s family feared his leprosy. He was locked indoors and was not allowed to go outside. He had to sit in only one chair, use the one plate and cutlery set, and use a separate towel.

Mohammed now travels the villages of Indonesia to stop the stigma of leprosy and spread the word that it can be cured.

“When the first signs of leprosy emerged, I thought I was Superman. My arm had become numb. I could hold a match to it and not feel a thing. When my neighbours said it was leprosy, my world collapsed.”

Mohammed’s parents thought his illness was a punishment from God. His whole family was in fear.

It was only by accident, his parents discovered that a neighbour had previously had leprosy but was cured. Mohammed was then taken to a clinic. Three years later, he was healed. But the consequences of the disease haunt him to this very day.

“Those days were the darkest of my life. Even today, the memories can bring me to tears.

His brothers and sisters continue to be ashamed of his illness.

“Often the stigma attached to leprosy affects a person much longer than the disease itself. That’s why I’m so motivated to fight leprosy.

The family of people affected by leprosy can play a major role in the reduction of stigma.”

Mohammed’s now the chairman of a group that was set up by people who were affected by leprosy. Together they visit villages to spread the word that leprosy can be cured.

“Very important also, are the conversations we have with religious leaders. They can play a major role in the reduction of stigma. Just like the families of people affected by leprosy. Medication cures leprosy, but full recovery is only possible with family support.”

Asken Sinaga, Executive Director of NLR Indonesia visited Australia recently. Watch as he explains the two new projects yo can support through The Leprosy Mission Australia together with an Australian Government grant. The government provides $5 for every $1 you give!*