News archive
New research suggests potential early marker for leprosy.
New research suggests potential early marker for leprosy.
The Global Appeal and 60th World Leprosy Day
The International Bar Association (IBA) and The Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest private philanthropic foundation, have formed an alliance to end discrimination against leprosy-affected people,...
Great response to Moti’s story
We have had a great response to Moti’s story, thank you to everyone who donated to our lymphatic filariasis appeal.
UK to cut aid to India: It will only hurt the poorest
The UK is to end financial aid to India by 2015, international development secretary Justine Greening has said. Why we feel this is a ‘sound bite policy’.
LEPRA social audits give insight into what communities need
LEPRA is leading the way for non-government organisations to use social audits – a tool for project transparency and effectiveness.
Disease and banishment – a woman speaks out
For Kalpana, the burden of poverty and disability was worsened by the horror of domestic violence.
24-7 LEPRA Team: A day in the life
A day in the life of Rajni Kant Singh, LEPRA’s State Coordinator for Bihar -- a 24-7 occupation!
Please don’t use the ‘e’ word – it creates a false impression
“Elimination as a public health problem” (i.e. fewer than one case per 10,000 population) is a political rather than scientific term. This is something that has been relied on as an indicator...
Poll reveals India is worst place in G20 to be a woman
According to a new poll, India is the worst place for women among the G20 nations. By ensuring that young women that are included in community based-organisations LEPRA is helping women to prevent the spread of HIV in rural India.
Chris Bonington carries the relay torch up Snowdon
LEPRA’s president Chris Bonington described his own emotional journey with the Olympic torch up Snowdon yesterday.
Bihar: a state in distress
Bihar is a state in distress. Huge deprivation means huge demand for LEPRA’s services. LEPRA saving lives and health in Bihar. By providing services and running village health programmes we are ensuring that help is closer than 62 miles away for some. We need your help to reach more.
London Marathon 2012 – mile 16
Like so many charities across the UK Marathon Day is very special for us. And, as always, our runners all did us proud! One even tweeted throughout the route, his tweets made us laugh and even gave us the heads up on when he was due past “I can see your banners I’m coming @LEPRA_HinA.”!
The great pirate debate rumbles on
And so the debate rumbles on (and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t delighted). Should Aardman and Sony have changed the ‘leper boat’ scene in the film? Or should they have stuck to their guns, complaining ‘PC brigade’ be damned?
World TB Day: Stop TB in my lifetime
Kanduri Charan Nath is 76 and lives in Odisha, India. When he was ill with TB Kanduri couldn’t even get out of bed on some days – now he can easily cover 50 to 60 kilometres on his bike.
LEPRA responds to aid to India debate
Over the past few weeks a debate has been raging over whether the UK should continue to give aid money to India.
Sarah Nancollas, Chief executive of LEPRA Health in Action has responded to the debate.
Leprosy is no joke
After more than a week of mounting press speculation, Aardman has decided to change the controversial depiction of leprosy from their forthcoming film ‘Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists’.
1 December is World AIDS Day
Integrating TB and HIV services and fighting health stigma are two ways in which LEPRA is saving lives and helping people in India affected by not only HIV but also leprosy to reshape a better future.
Bangladesh abolishes leprosy discriminatory Act
LEPRA Health in Action welcomes the abolition of a discriminatory act in Bangladesh contravening the human rights of leprosy affected people. It is clear, however, that much remains to be done.
There are still many laws contravening the human rights of leprosy affected people. Join us in demanding an end to this discrimination.
Trustee vacancies at LEPRA Health in Action
LEPRA’s Board of Trustees is recruiting two new trustees with the aim of extending the Board’s expertise in fund raising and communications.
Local MPs and Mayor lend their voice to LEPRA campaign
LEPRA Health in Action’s Humanity in Action campaign launched this morning with the opening of a photographic exhibition, images of LEPRA India’s work by Essex photographer Colin Summers at the University of Essex.
Pioneering approach to reduce leprosy burden in endemic ‘pockets’ in India
On 3/4 August 2011 a revolutionary model will be presented by LEPRA to a meeting of state health secretaries which will see the 209 districts that currently have an annual new case detection rate of more than 10 per 100,000 head of population being categorised and targeted with appropriate measures to combat the disease. This is with a view to inclusion of this model in the 12th National five year health plan with an increased budget.
Disability is a development issue – WHO report released
“Disability is a development issue.” The first ever WHO report on disability became available last night: http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/index.html
World Malaria Day 2011
At a health centre in Orissa, India, mothers and babies wait patiently for treatment and to receive InsecticideTreated Nets (ITNs) to protect them from mosquitoes; as part of LEPRA Health in...
Hooray they did it!!
All of us at LEPRA would like to thank and congratulate the 17 runners who took to the sunny streets of London and participated in the Virgin London Marathon 2011. To date our marathon team have...
LEPRA mourns loss of Henrietta Search
Henrietta Search, until recently a trustee for LEPRA, died peacefully in University College Hospital on 27th March after a brief but very serious illness.
Henrietta’s expertise in strategic planning, finance and organisational and human resource planning was invaluable to LEPRA, as was her honest and wise counsel to the Board, she will be greatly missed.
Unreported World: India’s Leprosy Heroes on Channel 4
Don’t forget to watch India’s Leprosy Heroes on Channel 4, Friday 25th March at 7.30 pm.
A big thank you to our friend Mr Narsappa pictured here who is featured in the piece as the elected head of SLAP an organisation made up of leprosy affected people – fighting for the rights of leprosy affected people in Andhra Pradesh.
Bola aims to make a World of Difference
Imagine spending time making a difference working for your dream charity without the worry of having to make financial sacrifices. That’s what the World of Difference programme is all about.
Four Remarkable Women – One Healthy Community
Meet four women from rural Orissa, India, who between them have made it easier for people to learn, get tested, and be treated for TB. Empowered and active, these women are a true inspiration.
100 Women for 100 Years
100 Women for the 100th International Women’s Day
We have collected 100 photos of women affected by our work in India.
India cyclist interviewed on BBC Radio Somerset
Jenny Clarke has recently returned from the LEPRA Bike Ride in India and has been interviewed on the Morning Show by BBC Radio Somerset.
Sir Ronald De Witt, KB appointed LEPRA’s new Chairman
Sir Ronald De Witt, KB has been appointed Chairman to Board of Trustees of LEPRA Health in Action.
Ride a bike around rural India? A bike would be a good start!
“Do you want to join the next LEPRA bike ride to India?” asked my wife Jenny, just returned from her 12th successive trip. “We cycle about 50km a day around Orissa, the poorest state in...
Greater poverty in India than Sub-Saharan Africa
On the “Today” programme, Radio 4 Andrew Mitchell discussed the UK’s support to India, citing more extreme poverty than in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa and DFID support for 3 states – Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
58th World Leprosy Day, 2011
30th January was the 58th World Leprosy Day. Our chief executive, Sarah Nancollas was in India on the day.
2011 sees start of the new Global Strategy for leprosy
BBC Radio 4 Appeal Update
LEPRA Health in Action is delighted to announce that our recent Radio 4 Appeal for lymphatic filariasis (LF) fronted by BBC Medical Correspondent Fergus Walsh has so far raised an impressive...
New Year, new start
Why not start the year by helping others? By taking part in a fundraising activity you can help change lives and give yourself a real challenge. Like Liz Kennedy, Sandra Horne, Maeve O’Brien...
LEPRA mourns loss of trustee Lord Bingham
A former Lord Chief Justice in the UK Lord Bingham of Cornhill was committed to human rights and worked tirelessly to reform the legal system in the UK. We were extremely lucky to have Tom...
Purchase Christmas cards to support our work
By purchasing packs of Christmas cards, Gift Wrap, Advent Calendars & Notelets you can help LEPRA Health in Action make a world of difference.
Meet our new Chief Executive
Hello, I’m Sarah Nancollas. I am delighted and excited to have joined LEPRA Health in Action as the new Chief Executive.
Reduction in malaria in Guatemala
At a time when attention has been refocused on the problem of malaria following the announcement that Cheryl Cole has been diagnosed with the disease, LEPRA Health in Action can report 95% reductions...
Edinburgh to St Andrews cycle ride 2010
The 30th annual LEPRA Edinburgh to St Andrews Cycle Ride ride left Inverleith Park, in the centre of Edinburgh, on Satuday 19th June bathed in glorious sunshine. Like to take part in the Edinburgh...
See LEPRA India through the lens
Well known photographer Colin Summers recently returned from a trip to India where he was able to witness first hand the work carried out fighting diseases of poverty. A selection of exclusive signed...
Running the 1/2 Marathon for LEPRA Health in Action
Dr Walter Lopez (LEPRA Programme Coordinator, Guatemala) has now got a justgiving page!
It can be found at www.justgiving.com/walter-lopez
Hooray – they’ve done it!!!!!!
We would like to thank and congratulate the 23 runners who took part in the Virgin London Marathon and ran on behalf of LEPRA Health in Action.
18 April – World Poverty Day
World Poverty Day this weekend sees UK election campaign focus on international development.
April 7th – World Health Day
World Health Day, which this year falls on April 7, is an annual event which acts to draw worldwide attention to the theme of health and engage governments, international organizations, business and...
March 24th – World TB Day
World TB Day, which this year falls on March 24, is an annual event which commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that...
LEPRA’s Voice in America
LEPRA Health in Action’s Programs Director Dr. Nazma Kabir was recently invited to give a talk on the work of LEPRA by the popular radio station Voice of America.
Making a night of it for World Leprosy Week
The glamorous interior of a riverside venue in Colchester was the setting of our Bollywood party to highlight World Leprosy Week.
Our Malawi Bike ride – Guardian Top 10
Our Malawi Bike Ride has been listed as one of the Top 10 Charity Challenges for 2010 by the Guardian.co.uk.
Getting involved at work for LEPRA Health in Action
Jane Lawson, NHS Tees, is set to join us in India for two weeks in January and is determined to raise as much money as possible to help fund vital projects.
Santa’s run for LEPRA Health in Action
On Sunday 6th December, 11 LEPRA Health in Action supporters were joined by over 1,000 other charity supporters for the 2009 DoItForCharity.com Santa Run in Greenwich Park, London.
Canonisation of Fr Damien De Veuster
Mrs Rosalind Kerry was invited to attend the recent canonization service for Fr Damien De Veuster -- the first Hawaiian saint -- on behalf of LEPRA Health in Action
Manche to the Med
Husband and wife fundraising team Alexander and Margaret Hopkinson-Woolley completed their latest cycle challenge in September, this time with friend Jonathan Knowlson.
London Marathon 2009 update
Congratulations to our fantastic team of 16 runners who took part in the 2009 Flora London Marathon.
Tough times call for difficult decisions
After 6 years of working in Angola, LEPRA Health in Action has had to make the difficult decision to close its programme there.
Bicycle ambulances save lives
If you were ill and could not walk, how would you get to a hospital 10 miles away? Our bicycle ambulances are saving lives in Mozambique – but we need more.
Help our vans save more lives
If you or a family member had symptoms of a mystery illness where would you go for advice? Access to information and healthcare is something we often take for granted – but it could save your life.
Tackling Kala-Azar – the silent killer
Kala-Azar is a little-known but fatal disease caused by the parasite Leishmania Denovani, transmitted by sand flies. The disease is currently gripping 31 out of 38 districts in Bihar, India.
LEPRA’s 85th AGM report
LEPRA Health in Action recently held its 85th AGM at ING Bank in the City of London.
LEPRA mourns loss of Programmes Director
We are sorry to have to announce the sudden loss of our beloved colleague and friend Mr René Vargas after a road accident on Saturday 29th November 2009.
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Before LEPRA met her Shanti was regularly missing school as a result of undiagnosed Tuberculosis
LEPRA Patient - TB
