A year later, things took a turn for the worst when Shah noticed an ulcer forming on his foot which grew increasingly large and painful. He was diagnosed with leprosy and began a course of multidrug therapy treatment to cure him of the disease.
At first his family rejected him, but Saleha refused to abandon him, despite many people saying they shouldn’t be together.
“I feel love for him,” says Saleha and begins to cry. “Lots of people still say many things. They say it’s a contagious disease, that I’m doing too much work to support my husband.”
Due to the severity of his ulcer, Shah was unable to work for three months and experienced very low mood, “I just lay in bed. I felt suffocated and sad. Sometimes I felt suicidal.” Shah received regular counselling from Lepra to help with the emotional impact of his symptoms.
From 6am to 3pm, Saleha does domestic labour in the community. Alongside working long hours, Saleha dedicates her remaining time caring for Shah. She washes his feet thoroughly twice a day to clean the ulcer, prevent infection and dresses his wound.
Lepra recommended the couple attend a self-support group where Saleha received self-care and caregiver training, and Shah was provided with custom-made protective footwear.
“The shoes keep my feet safe, as the strap at the back prevents the foot from slipping out and protects it fully from external injuries. I would encourage all people affected by leprosy, especially those with numbness in the soles of their feet, to use these shoes at every step. They really help me to stay well.”
Shah and Saleha have two sons aged six and 11. The eldest dropped out of school this year so that he could work and earn money for his family. Financially, things are tough for the family but with Lepra’s support Shah and Saleha were issued with loan to help them with the cost of building a home. The couple also received invaluable livelihood and leadership training giving them skills they need to regain economic stability.
“We’re so grateful to Lepra, if they hadn’t helped us, our family would have suffered.”
