CHRISTMAS UPDATE
Date: 14 December 2021
Date: 14 December 2021
SFLG launches its Christmas Appeal
“let’s make the end of leprosy the greatest gift of all”
“let’s make the end of leprosy the greatest gift of all”
London, UK, 14 December 2021: St Francis Leprosy Guild today launches its Christmas Appeal and asks it supporters to make the end of leprosy a reality.
People with leprosy are often forced to live in remote and isolated communities away from their families and friends. That means, without the support of people like our donors, there would be nothing to celebrate at Christmas time” said SFLG’s Chief Executive, Clare McIntosh.
"An explosion of joy" What donations means at Christmas: being remembered, at the Marian Rehabilitation Home, Eleme Ebubu, Nigeria
St Francis Leprosy Guild has cared for people with leprosy for the past 125 years,” said Claire. “Today that means we work with our partners in 15 countries worldwide, to reach out to poor and remote communities and find and treat people with leprosy, before the disease takes hold.”
"An explosion of joy"
What donations mean at Christmas: being included, at the Adiofe Heath Centre, Arua, Uganda
To make the end of leprosy a reality, we need strategies that find and treat everyone with the disease. Active case-finding is a complex combination of planning, logistics, data collection and medical skills to finds people who have leprosy, then diagnose and treat them, their families, friends, and neighbours.”
"An explosion of joy"
What donations mean at Christmas, a celebration at the Dhanjuri Leprosy Centre, Dinajapur, Bangladesh
If we can find people with leprosy, village by village, town by town, city by city, and country by country, until we have found everyone who is affected, then we will start to see an end to a disease that has devastated lives since Jesus’ time.”
Rejoicing in the Christmas message at St Joseph’s Leprosy Hospital, Tutcorin, India.
For the first time in centuries, an end to leprosy is within sight and SFLG is determined to play its part. But we need all the support that we can get to make the end of this disease a reality. That would be the greatest gift of all to give people with leprosy this Christmas.”
On behalf of our Trustees, our staff, and people with leprosy worldwide, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2022. “
Background to Active-Case Finding (“ACF”)
Until recent years, caring for people with leprosy meant providing treatment with multidrug therapy, corrective surgery to improve disabilities caused by leprosy, treatment of leprosy ulcers, and trying to reintegrate people affected by leprosy back into society when they have been shunned and ostracised.
Today, SFLG's focus is on finding, diagnosing and treating people with leprosy, as early as possible before disabilities and deformities can evolve, and the disease is passed on to others. Active Case-finding is a key component of SFLG’s TRACE strategy. Leprosy is a contagious disease, passed from person to person. It can only be fully eradicated if everyone with leprosy can be found.
SFLG works with other leprosy organisations to carry out vital community outreach work, raising awareness of the disease, monitoring for early symptoms, and overseeing treatment. This type of work is key in rural and remote communities, where people can live many miles from medical facilities and have no means of transport. As well as seeking out new cases, ACF also involves tracing the close contacts of leprosy patients, so that they can be screened for the disease, meaning the chain of infection can be broken.
Until recent years, caring for people with leprosy meant providing treatment with multidrug therapy, corrective surgery to improve disabilities caused by leprosy, treatment of leprosy ulcers, and trying to reintegrate people affected by leprosy back into society when they have been shunned and ostracised.
Today, SFLG's focus is on finding, diagnosing and treating people with leprosy, as early as possible before disabilities and deformities can evolve, and the disease is passed on to others. Active Case-finding is a key component of SFLG’s TRACE strategy. Leprosy is a contagious disease, passed from person to person. It can only be fully eradicated if everyone with leprosy can be found.
SFLG works with other leprosy organisations to carry out vital community outreach work, raising awareness of the disease, monitoring for early symptoms, and overseeing treatment. This type of work is key in rural and remote communities, where people can live many miles from medical facilities and have no means of transport. As well as seeking out new cases, ACF also involves tracing the close contacts of leprosy patients, so that they can be screened for the disease, meaning the chain of infection can be broken.
For more information please contact:
Tel: +44 (0)7754 592240
Email: [email protected]
Twitter @StLeprosy
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Tel: +44 (0)7754 592240
Email: [email protected]
Twitter @StLeprosy
