​New hope RURAL leprosy trust, muniguda, india

​Providing support for the rejected and vulnerable

So often, as in the case of Suresh below, parents and other family members can reject their children when they believe they have leprosy. Suresh was forced to live dangerously and beg on the streets, but New Hope was there for him when he was at his most vulnerable. 

Suresh (aged 18, lives at home near Vizag City, Andhra Pradesh)

Suresh with a friend after his sugery

Suresh was just a boy, aged 10, when he developed itchy skin with numbness. He was initially misdiagnosed with scabies and the medicine he was given made his skin patches worse. Luckily, Suresh’s teacher said that it might be leprosy and encouraged him to see a different doctor.

Sadly, both Suresh’s parents and uncle ostracised him when he was diagnosed with leprosy. He ran away from home and had to resort to begging. Suresh explains how lonely and frightened he felt, forced to beg at railway stations. After a policeman and social worker showed concern, Suresh was eventually brought to New Hope by a paramedic.

Suresh was in terrible pain, but a specialist there was able to correct the nerve damage in his elbow. He also had hand tendon surgery and now has 90% mobility back in his hand.

Unfortunately, Suresh’s parents still reject him, but he now lives with his paternal uncle and went back to school to finish his studies. Suresh has gone on to pass his exams and is now employed as a data entry clerk in the city. It is a huge credit to New Hope and Suresh himself, that he has overcome such adversity and rejection, and is building a career and a life for himself. 

I would like to say that I was sad [when] my parents rejected me. That I was forced to leave home and survived by begging. I was 10 then. When I was at the New Hope Leprosy Hospital I saw many bad deformities and even young people with foot ulcers. I have sometimes thought I would be like that if it was not for those people who cared for me from the policeman up until now. I learnt the truth that leprosy is curable and early detection prevents deformity. It’s like a real-life statement to me. I have heard of SFLG because I saw banners at the hospital where leprosy people from colonies came for eye surgery. I am happy that you can use my experience so that others will understand this importance of early detection - because if it was not for this - where would I be today I think.