She first developed symptoms of leprosy when she was a teenager.
"I had what looked like a scar on my skin with a painful lump underneath. Over time, I developed a frequent fever, and my hands and legs became bent and swollen. My symptoms became so bad that I needed help to feed myself and to go to the bathroom.”
At school, the stigma and discrimination Mojina faced greatly affected her mental health,
“I was ashamed of how I looked. My disabilities meant that I could no longer run around and play. Other children no longer talked to me or sat beside me. I felt very alone it was unbearable!”
Morjina’s parents took her to many local clinics and pharmacists, but sadly her condition only worsened and she was no longer well enough to attend school.
When Morjina married at 16, her husband’s family were unaware of her symptoms but as they exacerbated, he too sought treatment for her.
Working from home, Morjina assembled metal rings for construction but due to the lack of sensation in her hands, the task caused her to develop painful blisters.
It wasn’t until two years ago that Morjina was finally diagnosed at a Lepra referral centre. Her youngest son, Zihad was also confirmed as having leprosy.
Due to stigma surrounding the disease, Morjina’s husband told her he wanted a divorce.
“I felt so bad…valueless…worthless and didn’t want to live anymore.
The local community rallied against him and told him it was not right and that he should be looking after me.”
Thanks to family counselling from Lepra, Morjina has been able to overcome the physical and emotional impact of her diagnosis, and her husband is more understanding of her disease. The family receives ongoing emotional support from a ‘Mental Motivator’, a community volunteer trained in basic mental health.
“I used to feel ashamed of my appearance, but I am feeling better about it now.
It feels good to talk about these things…It’s been really helpful to me.”
With self-care, Morjina’s blisters healed and she was able to continue working and providing for her family. She now also rears goats, as an additional source of income.
As Mojina’s son, Zihad was diagnosed with leprosy early, he fortunately has not developed any lasting disabilities. Morjina makes sure that he takes his medication regularly as she is aware that if treatment is not followed symptoms can return. Thanks to community awareness, Zihad has not experienced stigma or discrimination like his mother did.
“Everyone loves Zihad at school, and his friends come over to play every day. He loves to make and fly kites."
To boost her wellbeing, Morjina enjoys growing vegetables, which not only support her family’s nutrition but also gives her a sense of achievement.
With Lepra’s support Morjina is recovering from the emotional impact of her leprosy diagnosis. With greater awareness, her husband is more understanding, and Zihad’s childhood is a happy one; without stigma and discrimination. Overall, the family remain confident and hopeful for their future.