In almost all countries, the disabled experience discrimination, exclusion and neglect. This is why leprosy is so important, we want to prevent disability.
As a secular organisation, Lepra works with everyone but gives extra priority to those who already are experiencing neglect.
Lepra aims to improve persons affected by leprosy livelihoods by following three key objectives; prevention, treatment and follow-up. Alongside this, we have a range of other objectives dedicated to helping people, such as;
We help people affected by leprosy, or lymphatic filariasis, to form self-help groups in their communities. They are trained in simple group management skills, and on livelihoods topics such as tailoring and cultivation of food crops.
At each meeting, members make a small financial contribution (around 10p) to a group fund. This fund can be used to provide members with an interest-free business loan to finance business initiatives such as a local shop or tailoring.
This promotes financial independence and means that groups can also set up group bank accounts, which usually they are denied from doing.
Lepra promote wellbeing, by working on a limited range of well-being/disability-related activities, such as the “secondary impairments:” e.g. reactions, ulceration and co-morbidities
Over the last year, we have worked with over 1,500 people affected by disease and disability to help them to improve their incomes and quality of life. That’s over 1,500 families who are now better off thanks to this work.
We have seen some remarkable improvements in the standard of living and quality of life. Incomes have increased by a third on average, enabling them to spend more on essential items such as food.
Now, members are sharing their knowledge with the rest of their communities, helping to raise their social status and improve living standards for the whole community.
