World Leprosy Day

Each year the last Sunday in January is nominated by The Leprosy Mission (TLM) as the day to focus on the problems of leprosy and the people it affects.

It is hard to believe that in 2007 this disease, that was documented in the Bible when Jesus healed the leper, does still exist. It is a cruel disease that can so easily be cured with multi drug therapy- but the stigma attached to the deformities associated with it can cause rejection, isolation and a life time of misery.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a bacterial infection, probably spread by coughing and sneezing. More than 95% of people are immune to it, and it tends to affect those people living in overcrowded and impoverished conditions.

The first outward sign of leprosy is a patch on the skin, usually associated with loss of feeling. If this is allowed to go undetected and untreated then the more serious side affects can start to be visible. Leprosy does not cause fingers and toes to drop off. It is because the peripheral nerves are damaged that the sufferers no longer have feeling in their fingers and toes. These are then very vulnerable to bumps, bruises and cuts, and the people are unaware of the damage they have done. Subsequently infections and ulcers can develop, resulting in tissue loss, and toes and fingers can shorten as cartilage is absorbed by the body and bones are irreparably damaged.
Having been closely involved with a TB and Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre in the Delta State of Nigeria, I have been privileged to get to know and help many people affected by leprosy. It seems to afflict the poorest of the poor, those people who are least able to help themselves.

TLM has a strong Christian commitment to help those with Leprosy. It was set up over 130 years ago by a couple who pledged to help leprosy sufferers in India. It is now a worldwide partnership, active in over 50 countries. It serves a population of 320 million people across 244 projects in 29 leprosy affected countries.

Its mission statement is :-
“To minister in the name of Jesus Christ to the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of individuals and communities disadvantaged by leprosy; working with them to uphold human dignity and eradicate leprosy”.
Its vision is “For a world without leprosy”.
Its goal is “To eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy”.

In the year 2000 there were more than 600,000 new cases of leprosy, last year it was down to approximately 450,000.
TLM need our help to be able to fulfil their vision and goal that one day there will be a world without leprosy!
For more information please contact Clare Ramsden 00 973 39911921
or TLM at www.leprosymission.org

[At both morning and evening services on 28th January Clare gave an enlightening and moving talk on behalf of The Leprosy Mission. A retiring collection of BD 256 has been donated to the TLM from the Cathedral. Ed]