sACRED HEART LEPROSY CENTRE, kumbakonan, india

Supporting leprosy patients for over a century
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The Sacred Heart Leprosy Centre (SHLC), Kumbakonam, is an NGO established in 1916 which has been treating and rehabilitating leprosy sufferers for over 100 years. Among its many achievements, it was the first institution to introduce multidrug therapy for leprosy, in 1982. SFLG has supported SHLC for over 30 years.

​Joseph (aged 73, lives at home)

Joseph became affected by leprosy as a young child and along with his family, he suffered terrible social stigma. He came to SHLC when he was 14, in 1962. Although successfully cured, he was unable to return to his own village.

​Some years later, after working in local convents, he stayed at SHLC for six months. He married in 1973, and he and his wife had two daughters in the years that followed. But life after leprosy was a struggle. He began working in one of the wards at SHLC and this was a turning point in his life.

Joseph approached the SHLC’s Rehabilitation Department and secured a loan to purchase a cart for transporting local children to school. This provided a small income for Joseph and was a great contribution to society – so much so, that the Tamil Nadu Government gave him the Best Rehabilitated Person award in 1989 and 1992. 

Joseph and his wife Sammansu

Through SHLC’s support, he was able to purchase a house and support his children through Higher Education. Therefore, he had turned his life around, made valuable contributions to society and secured his children’s careers. 

Meharunisha, lives outside SHLC

Meharunisha was born into a very poor family, and sadly contracted leprosy at only eight years old. Her brother-in-law worked at SHLC, and she lived with him and her sister while receiving treatment at the centre.

She married Noor, who was working in a shop at SHLC, and who was also affected by leprosy. They eventually moved to live just outside the centre where Noor set up a successful small shop. They later had a son and a daughter, but Noor sadly passed away in 1996.

​Meharunisha was frightened that she would no longer be able to support and educate their children. But SHLC were there when she needed them the most and they sponsored her children to complete their studies. She was also able to continue successfully running the shop. 

Meharunisha outside her shop

Sarath (aged 29, lives at home in Bihar State)

In 2000, Sarath came to the SHLC as an outpatient with a skin problem. While he was there, a doctor discovered a leprosy patch. During the time he was being treated for leprosy, he was able to study at the middle school, part of SHLC. He left SHLC in 2004.

After studying at a separate secondary school, with financial assistance from SHLC, Sarath completed a degree in mechanical engineering. He is now working as an assistant engineering professor in a local college.

Sarath visits SHLC once a year for a check-up. Thanks to SHLC, he has been able to fulfil his potential and become another of their many success stories.

​Sarath did not want his photograph to be taken but expresses huge gratitude for the support he has been given.