She first noticed swelling of her left foot which became increasingly worse affecting her mobility. At first, she tried traditional remedies but did not experience any relief.
The disease affected not only her physical health but also her emotional and social wellbeing. Kusum often felt ashamed of the swelling in her foot and gradually isolated herself from relatives, community gatherings, and social interactions. She feared being judged because of her condition.
Frequent acute attacks with pain and fever left her unable to perform household tasks for two-three days at a time. Her husband was also not physically capable of handling all the household responsibilities, which further increased the family’s difficulties and stress.
In 2025, Kusum was encouraged to attend a self-help group under Lepra’s Samarth Project. Initially, she was hesitant to attend due to embarrassment and low self-confidence. She avoided participating in community activities and tried to isolate herself. However, with continuous emotional support from members and the respectful environment of the group, she slowly began attending the meetings regularly.
During the meetings, Kusum learned about self-care practices to manage her condition and was issued with custom-made protective footwear. With regular self-care and continuous use of appropriate footwear, she gradually noticed a reduction in the swelling of her foot. She became more comfortable while walking and was able to travel longer distances with less difficulty.
Over time, Kusum’s physical condition improved, but more importantly, her emotional health also became better. She started interacting more openly with people in the community and her feelings of shame and isolation reduced significantly. She slowly accepted her condition and regained confidence.
“The self-support group gave me proper knowledge and guidance on how to manage LF through self-care practices. I am thankful to the Samarth Project and all the group members for their support, care, and encouragement.”
Kusum’s journey highlights the importance of community-based support and self-care practices in improving the quality of life of people affected by LF. Through the support of the Samarth Project and the self-support group, she was able to overcome social isolation, improve her health and rebuild her confidence within the community.
Funded and supported by global health charity Effect Hope, Lepra’s Samarth Project provides comprehensive care and support for physical symptoms as well as emotional wellbeing for people affected by leprosy and LF.