NEWS

LEPROSY IS CURABLE !

Laizu, from Bangladesh, is now over 20. When she was 9 she had leprosy, but was not diagnosed until she was 10. Leprosy Mission workers went into her village to do a public presentation. Her father attended and when he saw the pictures, he realised his daughter had leprosy, so he went home and brought her to the workers. She attended a clinic the next day where she was diagnosed and treated. For two years she received multidrug therapy treatment and also had reconstructive surgery on her left hand which still has slight clawing. She also has anaesthetic patches on her feet.

Her village reacted very badly to her diagnosis and told everyone to stay away from her and where she lived. They tried to drive them away. A Leprosy Mission health worker went into the village to explain she was cured and to educate them. They accepted they were wrong and the rejection ended. By having treatment followed by education the fear was taken away.

Laizu was trained by another leprosy-affected tailor for six months and The Leprosy Mission gave her a sewing machine. She works 10 hours per day, everyday and is very successful. She earns over 100 taka a day and has been able to fully pay back the loan given by The Leprosy Mission to start her business and build her family home (5000 taka). She specialises in ladies clothes and is the main bread winner for the family. She is also currently training her younger sister.

She has a lot of interest from prospective husbands but her family will not let her marry until she has fully trained her sister. Following that she can marry, move away with her sewing machine and the family will buy another sewing machine for their younger daughter. Laizu has two brothers and three sisters.