James Pender, Programmes and Advocacy Officer (Asia), first met U Soe Win on a visit to Myanmar in 2016. Ever since, he’s been inspired by the way he works to effect change in his community.

Despite Myanmar having the eighth highest number of people cured from leprosy in the world*, it is feared that these known cases are the tip of the iceberg with stigma and ignorance resulting in many cases being hidden or overlooked.

Former Chair of the International Development Committee (IDC), Sir Malcolm Bruce, visited Myanmar this week and spent time at The Leprosy Mission, seeing for himself the results of generous funding from the UK for disabled people.