World Leprosy Day 2010 to fund hospital and projects in Nepal
More than 100 countries will be celebrating the 56th annual World Leprosy Day on 31 January. This year The Leprosy Mission’s celebrations will raise money for its life-changing hospital in Anandaban hospital, Nepal.
Around a quarter of a million new cases of leprosy are detected each year. Sita, from Nepal
(right), was diagnosed with the disease seven years ago when she was only 11. Sadly she had already developed some permanent nerve damage and leprosy-related deformities.
At Anandaban hospital Sita received the multidrug therapy cure for leprosy, and operations on her hands and feet to help reverse the effects of the disease. Unfortunately, anaesthesia means she continues to have weakness in her hands and is susceptible to injury – this could have been prevented if she had received early treatment.
The Leprosy Mission also provides a range of community-based services, such as housing, education and small business loans, to empower people affected by leprosy. The charity has been providing sponsorship for Sita to attend school as her father was unable to keep paying for her education.
In the UK, churches, groups and schools will be using World Leprosy Day to raise awareness of the disease and fundraise. Free posters, leaflets, lesson plans and a DVD which shows the variety of The Leprosy Mission’s work in Nepal are available HERE.
