Leprosy has been called ‘a disease apart’ because of the physical impairments, stigma and poverty associated with it.

Leprosy is caused by a mycobacterium. It is not highly infectious and symptoms can take 20 years to show.

If left untreated, leprosy damages peripheral nerves in the hands, feet and face. The resulting anaesthesia leads to tissue damage and ulcers. Medical and lifestyle interventions are essential to prevent disability and blindness.

Leprosy is still a disease of our time.

• Worldwide over 300,000 new patients are diagnosed and registered for treatment every year.
• Because of the stigma associated with leprosy and reluctance to seek medical care, even more cases go undetected.
• Despite a cure, ‘leprosy’ is still a synonym for ‘outcast’ in many societies.
• Around 2.5 million people have visible deformities.
• A similar number have anaesthetic limbs as a result of damaged nerves.
• Approximately 30% have irreversible disabilities.

Since 1981, 14 million people have been treated with multidrug therapy (MDT), a combination of dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin.

Multidrug therapy is very effective in killing the leprosy bacteria.  Early diagnosis prevents irreversible disability and associated stigma.

MDT cannot prevent immunological conditions or restore lost sensation to limbs. Specialist care is required to cure reactions and ulcers, and provide eye and reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation.

The Leprosy Mission is committed to helping implement health education programmes, preventing disability and training patients to look after themselves.

We allocate growing resources to community-based approaches to leprosy and physical disability. We support affected families and communities through facilitating self-help groups and providing education (such as Catch Them Young, aimed at keeping children in school) and vocational training. Micro-credit and low-cost housing help families and communities make a way out of poverty.

The disabilities associated with leprosy are progressive—without self care, patients will become increasingly disabled. Physiotherapy is the key to rehabilitation. Most of theLeprosy Mmission's projects are staffed with a prevention of disability officer.

The leprosy germ likes the cool places in the body, particularly the skin and the surface nerves. This makes it a very visible disease, starting with patches on the skin. It may also damage nerves in the face, arms and legs and lead to clawed hands, a nodulous swollen face, or sores on the hands and feet.

Visible deformity leads to much of the associated fear and stigma.  Sufferers often delay getting treatment when they notice a patch, and only come when they already have nerve damage.

Damaged nerves lead to paralysis and loss of sensation. MDT cannot reverse nerve damage. Loss of sensation in hands, feet and eyes means that everyday activities are fraught with danger - burns go unrecognised, wounds untended, stones in shoes and grit in the eyes go unnoticed. The end result can be loss of sight, fingers and feet.

• We work in partnership with government health services, non-governmental organisations and people affected by leprosy.
• The Leprosy Mission provides medical and surgical services to those needing treatment.
• The Leprosy Mission offers comprehensive rehabilitation programmes, vocational training, housing assistance and education and work creation schemes to help former patients gain social acceptance and a new sense of dignity and purpose.

The Leprosy Mission is a faith-based charity.  We are motivated by our belief in God’s concern for the poor and believe that our work is an integral part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We strive to be:

• compassionate and holistic in our approach
• professional in our attitude, actions and management, and
• appropriate in our practice.