Don’t tell me that leprosy has been eliminated!

Arjun practices physiotherapy exercises he has been taught

Meeting Arjun had an emotional impact on me

Treatment of leprosy affected people goes beyond the body

Arjun was just a child when he first noticed leprosy patches across his body. He has had leprosy now for more than 20 years. Frequent knocks and pressure from ulcers have destroyed the bone and structure of his feet and hands.

‘Don’t tell me that leprosy has been eliminated!’: Bernard Farmer shares his feelings after meeting Arjun and hearing his story:

‘As I approached Arjun, his physical symptoms and condition had an emotional impact on me. What I noticed first of all was his amputated leg, really severe damage to his right foot, that both of his hands were clawing and he had ulcers on his left hand.

He was sitting very still, apart from his one good hand which was moving, practising the physiotherapy exercises he was taught by our physiotherapist to exercise and help straighten his fingers.

Here was a young man whose life had been ruined by disease we’re trying to fight. I was upset by the effects of it. When one meets a person like Arjun and sees the physical effects that can happen when leprosy goes untreated– it hits you quite starkly: it is IMPORTANT what we do.

If a person isn’t diagnosed or mistakes are made, real people like Arjun are let down, this can make life unbearable. I felt very angry.

Don’t tell me that leprosy has been eliminated!’

You can protect others from slipping through the net, so cases like Arjun no longer happen. Early diagnosis through our health information activities and referral centres is the only solution.

LEPRA relies on your support to be able to fight leprosy.

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Posted by admin 14:10 15.11.2011

Don’t tell me that leprosy has been eliminated!

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