Banished from School

16-year-old Shreya had to stop going to school when she was only ten. Her classmates told her she had ugly hands and everyone was so afraid of catching leprosy that she had to leave school. The school didn’t understand that leprosy can be treated and cured. Sadly, that same year both her parents died and she is now looked after by neighbours and relations.

Shreya’s leprosy was originally detected during a local screening campaign and then her village kindly collected money so she could travel to Anandaban Hospital in Nepal for treatment. She has now been there for 4 months and has recently had an operation to straighten the fingers on her right hand. Happily, she’s already had a successful operation on her left hand. Soon she’ll be able to hold a pen, a hairbrush or a knife and fork again. She’s looking forward to being able to use her hands for normal daily activities once more.

Working Hands Gift for Life

Leprosy affects the nerves leading to clawed fingers. This gift pays for someone like Shreya to have life-transforming hand surgery, straightening fingers and restoring movement.

£120 70125

For more Gifts for Life see