Leprosy cost Mesram her marriage and use of her hands
Mesram dreamed of hand-holding, of tending to her home, of being a devoted wife and mother. After all, she had finally been treated for leprosy. And, regardless of her condition, her husband asked for her hand in marriage two years after she had been cured. It appeared he would accept her and her visible disability – a left hand that had become clawed as Mesram had not been treated in time. Sadly, it was not to be.
Mesram’s reality
Ill-treated, attacked and ridiculed by her husband – this was Mesram’s reality. He refused to support or stand by her. Rather, he was open to the misguided ideas, fears and taunts of others – that leprosy is spread through the ulcers and wounds of hands. After eight years of marriage, Mesram’s husband deserted her and their two young children, without money or support.
For a short while, Mesram saw no way out of her plight – until one day she met people from LEPRA. LEPRA health workers assessed Mesram’s condition. In most cases, LEPRA offers corrective surgery, unfortunately, the damage to her hands was permanent.
How LEPRA helped Mesram
Despite this, LEPRA went on to help Mesram in five important ways: through warmth, support and care; motivation to care for her wounds by bathing and dressing; advice on simple exercises to best strengthen clawed fingers; security in the form of a loan; and protection from a fearful community. Support. Motivation. Advice. Security. Protection. Five qualities you would expect from a loved one. Five ways you can count on the fingers of a hand.
Mesram now had both the strength to be self-sufficient, and an interest-free loan from LEPRA. She set up her own business --- a small grocery shop. The income helped her support herself as well as her family and helped integrate her into the community. Today, Mesram is respected as a successful business woman, a role model and a friend to many.
You can help people like Mesram manage leprosy
As we found with Mesram, those who are late in diagnosis may be too late for reconstructive surgery. They may suffer permanent physical disability because their condition was not treated in time. Yet, for hands which are inoperable, there is still a lot LEPRA can do. Your donation could provide significant help for people like Mesram: purchasing disability aids; offering small-business loans; or providing daily help with cooking and washing.
You can help prevent others from developing leprosy
Every year, around 250,000 new cases of leprosy are diagnosed and countless more remain hidden. LEPRA works hard to ensure leprosy is diagnosed early and to reduce the social stigma and fear that surrounds the disease.
A gift from you can help LEPRA educate communities and ensure that people like Mesram get the right treatment for leprosy at the right time.
Your gift could not be more important
Please help people like Mesram to receive the treatment, support and after-care they need. Whatever you can afford could help people avoid disability, humiliation and suffering.
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“I show the articles to health staff, as well as patients, to remind them of the continuing problem of leprosy and its stigma around the world.”
Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, Texas
