Leprosy thrives where there is poverty and overcrowding, and these exist side by side in Bangladesh. It has one of the highest population densities in the world, with more than 1,200 people per square kilometre. 1 in 10 people live in extreme poverty.

Bangladesh is also on the frontline of the climate crisis. Extreme weather events and flooding are becoming more frequent and more severe.

In 2022, 2,988 people were diagnosed with leprosy. 148 cases were in children. Leprosy is a slow-moving disease, and child cases indicate the disease is spreading fast in communities.

Your support is funding healthcare, empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty, and enabling pioneering research to take place.

Healthcare

Bangladesh has just one doctor for every 1,900 people. We support The Leprosy Mission Bangladesh’s hospital in Nilphamari, northern Bangladesh. This is the only hospital in the country providing reconstructive surgery and treatment for leprosy-related complications.

We also support government clinics and other medical centres that provide leprosy care. We have successfully advocated for people affected by leprosy to be treated in general hospitals too.

Community Partnership

Together with The Leprosy Mission Bangladesh, we work with community groups, media organisations, and government health workers. These local partners combat stigma, raise awareness of leprosy, and help identify new cases.

Empowering people

We work to empower people affected by leprosy, so they can support each other and advocate for change. Through self-help groups, communities come together to pool savings and provide small loans to each other.

People affected by leprosy in Bangladesh have established a national Leprosy People’s Association. This will give them a platform to shape government policies and decisions that affect them.

Research

Our research work in Bangladesh has led to many innovations in the fight against leprosy.

Current work includes:

• Developing a diagnostic test for leprosy
• Developing more effective treatment for people affected by the disease
• Identifying drugs that may prevent family members and neighbours from developing lepro