Leprosy Care Centre

Most of us tend think of leprosy as a disease confined to the pages of ancient or medieval history. Few realise that today an estimated 2 to 3 million people in the world are still suffering from this devastating disease.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. Symptoms may occur within one year but can also may take as long as 20 years or even more to show themselves.

Many people around the world continue to suffer from this curable disease due to lack of access to basic medical care and continued stigma surrounding the illness. In 2021 the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated 274,327 people globally were affected with leprosy. Tragically, 15,000 of these were children. New infections are reported globally – but Brazil, Indonesia and India have 74% of the cases.

Despite being declared “leprosy-free” in 2005, India still has an estimated that two million people living with the long-term effects of leprosy. In 2019-20 some 114,451 new leprosy cases were diagnosed in the country. Many of these cases were in children.

It’s not just the physiological aspect of the disease that can be so damaging – leprosy can also have harsh social consequence. People and their families are often marginalised from their communities – adults may lose their livelihoods and children excluded from education.

Children are believed to be the most vulnerable group. Leprosy in children does not just affect their physical health: it can mean that from an early age, they become victims of prejudice and bullying, missing out on school, and shunned for their whole lives. The social and mental impacts of this disease has the potential to destroy their whole lives.

The good news is that Leprosy is curable. Early identification of suspected cases. prompt diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT) can ensure that leprosy is cured, and disability is prevented. The currently recommended MDT regimen consists of medicines: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. These kill the pathogen and cure the patient. More than 16 million leprosy patients have been treated with MDT over the past 20 years.

To help fight this devastating disease DATUM’s proposed healthcare project for 2023 is the renovation of the existing Sonepur Leprosy Care Centre in Odisha State, India.

DATUM is partnering LEPRA UK to ensure people affected by leprosy in Sonepur and the surrounding region in Odisha State in India can have access to good quality leprosy healthcare. LEPRA have been providing treatment and support to individuals and communities affected by this disease in India and Bangladesh for nearly 100 years.

The existing Sonepur Leprosy Care Centre serves a predominantly rural region where more than 28% of the population is classified as poor. It provides a whole range of patient leprosy services, including diagnostics, ulcer treatment, physiotherapy, and the supply of tailor-made footwear and disability aids. But, sadly it is in a very poor condition – so much so – that certain buildings can no longer be used. Urgent repairs that are needed to the buildings, along with upgrading the electrical systems, re- decoration, furnishing, and equipment. These works are required to the following areas:

• Physiotherapy unit 

This is the only facility in Sonepur district that provides specialised leprosy physiotherapy support.

• Clinical laboratory 

This is where test samples, including slit skin smear tests, are analysed to confirm cases of leprosy.

• Footwear workshop

This is where special shoes, tailor-made to each individual, are produced by trained shoemakers. The centre is the only producer of these shoes in the whole of Odisha state.

• Livelihoods training unit

Once renovated, the centre will be able to arrange training workshops for groups of people affected by leprosy to learn skills that will enable them to earn an income and support their families.

• Kitchen

This is essential to the functioning of the Centre but needs to be brought up to standard and make it operational. This will include a new water supply.

The estimated cost for the renovation of the Sonepur Leprosy Care Centre is a total of £10,000.

DATUM is pleased to confirm that thanks to several very generous donations over the last few months some £5,000 is already available to undertake this important work. DATUM’s BIG CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2022 this year has a target of raising the remaining £5,000. 

Once renovating works of the Sonepur Care Centre are completed it will be able to provide treatment and support to some 720 individuals each year – of whom some 100 will be children.

The Trustees of DATUM Foundation ask for your support towards this important project and help LEPRA to provide treatment and support for men, women and children affected by leprosy in rural Odisha.

The Trustees of DATUM Foundation, and the children of Sonepur and the surrounding region thank you for your support.

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