He works extremely hard to provide for his family, taking on multiple jobs including farming, tailoring, running a slipper shop, and managing a small evening food stall with his wife.
Ramachandra has lived with lymphatic filariasis (LF) for nearly 30 years. He first noticed swelling in his legs and over time he experienced frequent acute attacks of pain and fever which gradually made everyday tasks more difficult.
During painful episodes, Ramachandra’s mobility was so badly affected that it impacted his work. Financial pressure spurred him to continue on through the pain,
“I never wanted to give up because my family depends on me.”
When Lepra staff carried out a survey in Ramachandra’s village, they suspected he had LF and reassured him that treatment was available.
“At first I was worried about how I would continue my work but once I understood that treatment was possible, I felt supported.”
With support from Lepra, Ramachandra learnt self-care practices to help reduce swelling and was given custom-made footwear to decrease pain while walking. By practising daily self-care and wearing the shoes, his pain and swelling significantly reduced improving both his mobility and confidence. Lepra also supported Ramachandra to access government support which enabled him to expand his business activities.
Today, Ramachandra continues to work with renewed confidence and optimism.
“Now I feel stronger and more hopeful about my future.”
He now encourages others with symptoms to seek timely treatment and follow self-care practices.