More than 200,000 people are still diagnosed with leprosy each year—including about 15,000 children. Approximately 6 million people live with disabilities as a result of leprosy, and the number of unreported cases—people who are never even examined or diagnosed—is high.
And this is solely because leprosy affects not the wealthy, but the poorest people, who lack access to healthcare. Unfortunately, this also applies to the people in FAIRMED’s projects. For this ancient disease—which has been documented for over 4,000 years—spreads particularly in environments where people live in cramped conditions, are malnourished, live in poverty, and lack access to healthcare.
Leprosy is transmitted from person to person through droplet infection and, if left untreated, leads to chronic ulcers and permanent disabilities. Yet the disease is relatively easy to diagnose and can be cured with a combination of three antibiotics. However, those affected often conceal their infection, as leprosy is associated with severe stigma and social exclusion in some regions of the world.
Close to the People: FAIRMED’s Work Against Leprosy
The health workers trained by FAIRMED therefore visit even the most remote villages in their communities to screen local residents for early signs of leprosy. This ensures that those affected can be treated as early as possible, before the disease leads to permanent disabilities. At the same time, the health workers carry out comprehensive awareness-raising efforts in the affected communities to educate people about leprosy, break down prejudices, and combat the stigma surrounding the disease.
In addition, FAIRMED trains and provides continuing education to local health workers in the treatment of leprosy and ensures that health centers have the necessary equipment to treat those affected properly. Furthermore, FAIRMED is committed to ensuring that people living with disabilities caused by leprosy receive the necessary support and rehabilitation.
Bal Bahadur
Bal Bahadur, a 73-year-old man who lives in the mountains of Nepal and has already lost several toes and fingers, is representative of the plights of people affected by leprosy in FAIRMED’s projects. Here you can learn how our health mobilizer, Pramila Raut, learned of his situation and was able to free him from his greatest fear.
Fighting Leprosy for Over 65 Years
FAIRMED was founded in 1959 as the National Committee for People Affected by Leprosy. Its work to combat leprosy began with projects in Cameroon, India, and Tanzania. Just a few years later, FAIRMED was supporting 60 leprosy centers in 28 countries and further expanding medical care with its own team of specialists.
Starting in 2001, FAIRMED expanded its work to include other neglected tropical diseases and launched its first Buruli ulcer project in Cameroon. Today, we are committed to combating neglected tropical diseases in Africa and Asia and to sustainably improving access to equitable health care.
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A glimpse into FAIRMED's projects
Nepal
Project «Sindhu»
Central African Republic
Project «Seni na Siriri»
Cameroon
