NEWS: Leprosy in Nepal

Julie Lincoln

Leprosy has caused untold misery for thousands of people in Nepal. Rejected by their families, cast out from their villages, fearing they are under the curse of the gods, people affected by leprosy desperately need the compassion and hope that only Jesus can offer.

Based in Ghorahi in Nepal’s remote midwest, our project is reaching out to people affected by leprosy with the love of Christ, restoring their dignity, preventing further disability and enabling them to reach their full potential. Ours is the only centre providing these services among the 1.5 million population in Rapti zone, including the very remote, conflict afflicted areas of Rukum and Rolpa (where the Maoist movement in Nepal was birthed). Life is hard in these mountainous districts with very limited infrastructure, insufficient cultivating land leading to chronic food shortages and approximately 70-80% living below the poverty line. Health facilities are limited and most development has stopped over the last few years due to the bad security situation. In the midst of these difficulties, our project offers a ray of hope.

Sarita's Story
She came from a poor village three days journey and a long walk down from the mountains. Each step was difficult for 36 year old Sarita as both her feet dragged on the ground and she couldn’t lift them up to walk properly. Furthermore both feet were stumped (she had lost all toes and front part of her foot through repeated injuries) and she had big ulcers from the journey. Her hands also were stumps with no full fingers left. Sarita had been diagnosed with leprosy at age 11, a diagnosis that effectively destroyed all hopes of a normal life; no one would marry a girl who had leprosy, no one would want her to work for them; even her friends stayed away, afraid and wondering what she had done that was so bad it had brought down the curses of the gods upon her. Sarita had received treatment for her leprosy, but no one taught her how to care for her hands and feet to prevent disability. Could we do anything to help her? We treated her ulcers, then referred her to a bigger hospital for operations to correct her foot drop. She could now lift her feet off the ground, but needed special moulded shoes to protect her feet and a stick to help her walk. A vocational assessment showed she was too disabled to earn her living. We could provide her with shoes and a living allowance, but the rejection she had experienced had caused severe emotional instability and a terror of leaving the safety of the clinic for life in the community. However, in the midst of receiving treatment for her leprosy complications, Sarita also heard the story of Jesus, how He had compassion on people affected by leprosy and how He gave His life for her. She responded with joy, joined the local chrch and another chrch member offered her a place in their home. Sarita’s fear has been replaced with joy at what the Lord has done for her. Although she cannot work, she can pray and is now known as a faithful intercessor.

Our centre is committed to providing holistic care to people like Sarita who are already severely disabled when they arrive and also to prevent these disabilities occurring in the first place. We also assist people with TB and general disabilities.