62-year-old Bilkis lives in the Bogura district of Bangladesh.
She has three daughters and a son, but sadly her husband passed away shortly after the birth of her youngest daughter.
During a routine checkup, when her youngest daughter was a year old, a doctor noticed Bilkis had patches of white skin with little sensation. Diagnosed with leprosy, she was referred to the regional clinic for multidrug therapy.
With no husband, no support from her wider family or community, and struggling to feed four young children, Bilkis had no choice but to beg for food and money, forcing her to delay her treatment until her children were older.
The delay in treatment, meant Bilkis’ condition seriously deteriorated. Her legs had become weak, and she had lost significant sensation in one of her hands. Unable to walk or maintain employment, she begged in a wheelchair which took a significant toll on her emotional wellbeing. Her children were taken into an orphanage, and she was isolated from her community.
Concerned by her significant vulnerabilities, the ‘Bogura Federation of People Affected by Leprosy’ helped Bilkis to apply for financial support, suitable housing and an assisted tricycle. Recognising her significant vulnerabilities, she was referred to Lepra’s Mind to Heart project which focuses on emotional recovery.
Bilkis attended structured counselling sessions, and with ongoing support from Bizly, a voluntary ‘Mental Motivator’ Bilkis rebuilt her confidence and emotional health. Bizly has visited Bilkis every 2-3 months for past 12 years. Over time, Bilkis’ outlook on life has completely changed, she feels empowered and no longer bound by prejudice and discrimination.
“Whenever I feel sad or low, Bizly comes to see me.”
When Tom first met Bilkis in 2023, her ambition was to set a shop as a source of sustainable income.
With the help of the Federation, in 2024, Bilkis realised her goal.
“It is with the money from the shop that I can afford my daily living. I’m happy that I don’t need to go begging. I was very sad, but now I’m feeling good, as I’ve had the opportunity to start up my own shop. I have more confidence.”
Previously, Bilkis used a standard wheelchair and was reliant on family members for transport. Seven months ago, Bilkis received a grant for an assisted tricycle, which has given her even greater independence and dignity.
