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THE LEPROSY MISSION UP-DATE ON PROGRESS
WHAT IS THE LEPROSY MISSION?
(Extracts from TLM's - "A Global Problem - A Personal Need"
The Leprosy Mission (TLM) is an international Christian Charity, founded in 1874, and now bringing healing and restoration to some 200,000 people affected by leprosy in over 30 countries. The Mission has 2,300 field staff and works both directly, through its own hospitals and programmes, and in partnership with churches, voluntary agencies, governments and international organisations to meet the total needs of people affected by leprosy. The Missions Purpose is to :- Minister in the Name of Jesus Christ to the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of individuals and communities disadvantaged by leprosy, working with them to uphold human dignity and eradicate leprosy. TLM is realising its mission by :-
Expanding its geographic presence with a strong commitment to mission. (2) Increasing its flexibility in order to respond to the greatest need. (3) Developing a core of committed Christian staff, both national and international, who are highly qualified, flexible and mobile. (4) Working to change community attitudes and to increase local participation in order to achieve community-based care. (5) Developing an international support base through the shared-Ministry of National Councils. (6) Increasing co-operation with local field churches in preparation for involvement in integrated work and health-care initiatives.
THE LEPROSY CHALLENGE
Leprosy is by no means a thing of the past. It is a Global Problem causing millions of people deep, personal suffering. It contributes to poverty, disability and lost human potential, and whole communities and countries pay the cost. Look at the realities :- (1) That's 65 NEW CASES PER HOUR !!. (2) Sadly, four, already are disabled. (3) Eleven are children.
Over one million people still need the modern-day cure - Multi-Drug-Therapy (MCT) because (1) - Untreated they could develop serious disabilities - (2) but many are difficult to reach, living in isolated or war-torn areas. (3) Up to 300,000 leprosy sufferers are hidden away, yet to be detected. (4) Between now and the year 2000, some 2 million sufferers will need MDT.
About four million people have disabilities or impairments due to leprosy and :- (1) Without proper care and support, their disability problems can steadily worsen. (2) Many need assistance to integrate with their communities. (3) Many need employment opportunities to escape the poverty trap. (4) Many are stigmatised.
LEPROSY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN 55 COUNTRIES:- (1) Most affected are developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. (2) Where resources are scarce, leprosy risks becoming a forgotten problem. (3) India, Brazil, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Myanma (Burma) have the largest leprosy problems. (4) Leprosy still occurs naturally in the USA and some European countries.
HERE IS A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM TLM'S GENERAL DIRECTOR - (Trevor Durston) :- In the course of our work, we provide a lot of programmes, medications and expertise, but, at the end of the day, we are about PEOPLE. We are committed to staying with the needs of people affected by leprosy until those needs are fully met.
When I'm asked to describe TLM's Ministry, I always think of the people I've met, like Mr. Sundaram in India, who had been helped over many years to overcome the lingering problems of leprosy and was so proud to take me into his house to show me his small business, selling paraffin. For him, these were symbols of personal victory over one of the world's cruellest diseases and I could see his dignity and self-worth shining through. In tragic contrast are the many other people who have not been reached in time and who have lost all sense of self-worth because of stigma and disability.
1997 has been a very busy year for TLM, but all of our efforts have been focused on reaching more people at their point of need. Our comprehensive services helped to alleviate the suffering of nearly 700,000 people with leprosy and other problems. The number of leprosy patients receiving MDT has risen to 98% compared to 83% in 1995. Twenty-four new projects, reflecting TLM's core aim of treating patients holistically and working with the community, have been commenced, taking the total up to 160. In 15 years, 9 million leprosy sufferers have been cured.
THE - "L" - WORD :- People who have had leprosy are often still referred to by the insulting name "leper". But why do we say that is is "insulting"? Firstly, because it reduces people to a disease, and the label can stick long after the person has been cured. No one would dream of calling a person who has once suffered from cancer as a "cancerer" for the rest of his / her life ! Secondly, the word "leper" has become a generic term for everything disgusting and unworthy of membership of the human race. By calling a person who has suffered from leprosy a "leper", we are adding to the stigma, revulsion and fear surrounding the disease rather than breaking them down. A person affected by leprosy is a PERSON and should be recognised as having the same dignity and human rights as anyone else. Jesus always saw the individual in His ministry on earth. Today, the term "Person affected by leprosy" (or by Hansen';s Disease) are becoming more widely accepted because they are accurate and appropriate.
YOU MAY LIKE TO VISIT THE FOLLOWING INTERESTING LEPROSY SITES :-
THE LEPROSY MISSION INTERNATIONAL
LEPRA OF U.K.
W.H.O. - LINKED LEPROSY SITE
THE CHALLENGE OF LEPROSY
FORUM ON LEPROSY
INT. FED. OF ANTI-LEPROSY ASSOC. (ILEP) - with LINK to W.H.O.
AMERICAN LEPROSY MISSIONS
CYBERSPACIAL "ON-LINE" BOOKSHOP stocking top-quality leprosy text-books. Just type the word - leprosy - in the search box and hit the FIND button. We recommend books by such leprologists as Jopling and Bryceson / Pfaltzgraff, etc..
SHARE IN DISCUSSIONS ON LEPROSY - Just type the words - alt.support.leprosy - in the search box and hit the FIND button
RETURN TO OUR FAMILY WEB-SITE
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OUR FAMILY WEB-SITE
AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
VIRTUAL LIBRARY ON LEPROSY
INDEX OF ALL OUR PERSONAL WEB-SITES
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