Professional Documents
Culture Documents
founded 1874 Ministering in the name of Jesus to the physical, mental and spiritual needs of leprosy sufferers around the world and those with similar disabilities.
Regions of Care
Leprosy
An infectious disease caused by a bacterium Mycobacterium leprae Affects skin and eyes and muscles such as hands and feet Attacks nerves in the cool part of the body If not attended to immediately, it causes deformities
What is leprosy?
A disease.
The Disease
Initial Symptoms Development of clearly defined pale skin patches indicating isolation of bacterium In extreme cases there is little definition between patches and healthy skin
The Disease
Progression of Disease Numbness in hand and feet Patient is susceptible to cuts, infections and feels no pain Stiffened muscles Loss of the blinking reflex in the eye can lead to blindness In some cases, amputation of hand and feet is necessary
This is Basarul.
He has leprosy.
History of Leprosy
Leprosy has existed since biblical times Once existed in Europe from 12000 BCE, it has since disappeared in Europe Canada once had 3 leprosy colonies Leprosy still exists in many countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa
American Leprosy Missions and The Leprosy Mission Canada are continuing to help fund research.
The Ideal
Find every case of leprosy at an early stage Distribute the cure Have people remain in their communities and be productive members of society
The Cure
Curing people of leprosy is a complex process Must respond to social as well as physical condition The cure is made of three different antibiotics: Dapsone, Rifampicin, and Clofazimine known together as multi-drug therapy
The Cure
MDT can cure leprosy in as little as 6 months, and for more advanced cases, up to 2 year Getting people to finish the cure is sometimes problematic considering the length of time they need to take the medication
Vocational Training
Background of Neglected Tropical Diseases Significant morbidity (1 billion affected) Strong association with poverty Flourish in poor environments Tend to co-exist Prevalent in tropical areas Largely hidden rural, remote, slums Silent no political voice