St Anthony's leprosy rehabilitation centre

​St. Anthony's Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, India

People affected by leprosy are often alienated by their families and communities. The ostracization causes isolation, heartbreak and destroys lives. Even educated people may consider that leprosy is a curse and treat people with leprosy as outcasts or untouchables.

​Having lost everything: their families, friends, career, home and even their limbs, people with leprosy cannot support themselves. As a result, they are left homeless without proper shelter, food, clothing and must beg for their survival. St Anthony's cares for people with leprosy and their dependents, and provides shelter, food, medical aid, clothing, shoes, and education for their children. 

At present, St Anthony’s cares for 46 leprosy patients: 26 women and 20 men. In addition, there are 19 children whose parents are leprosy affected and five married couples. So, the total number living at St Anthony's is 75. 

Balaram (aged 55 living at At Anthony's)
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Balaram was just 15, and dreaming of buying some land and marrying, when he began experiencing some worrying symptoms. He developed white patches and a loss of sensation in his legs. This sensation spread to his head and his fingers began to bend. Balaram says his hopes and dreams were shattered when he was diagnosed with leprosy, due to the subsequent loss of limbs and the social stigma surrounding the disease. He was referred to the centre by a local health clinic to begin treatment, but sadly his limbs could not be saved.

Balaram states: “I was shattered and unable to digest the fact that I am affected with leprosy. I was ashamed of myself and feared to face the public. I was leading a hidden life in the community, because discrimination was my biggest fear and I did experience it.”

But as well as the basics of food, clothing and shelter, Balaram says the centre provides him equality and freedom of expression. “Primarily, I am accepted as a human being and treated with self respect and dignity.” He states that he is content to live happily and die in peace in the centre.

​Two of Balaram’s friends are also with him at the Centre, being treated for the disease. 

What I would like the world to know about leprosy is not a curse but curable disease.

Jainabi Sheik (aged 50 living at At Anthony's)
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Like many 20 year olds, Jainabi dreamed of marriage and having a family. But when she experienced worsening sores around her fingernails, a local doctor diagnosed leprosy. Jainabi says the diagnosis crushed her dreams, and she became a burden to her family due to the social stigma they began to suffer.

Doctors were unable to stop the disfigurement in Jainabi’s hands and she says she hid them under her clothing. Her greatest distress was when her friends began to avoid her, making her feel that her life was over and she was a disgrace to her family.

As well as all her medical treatment the centre has given Jainabi a home. But even more importantly, she met a fellow patient, Rosaiah, whom she has married and they live happily at the centre together.

Jainabi would have been homeless and alone without the centre’s support. She knows that they will provide shelter and medicine for her for as long as it’s needed, and this is a great comfort. 

What I would like the world to know about leprosy is a curable skin disease.

Thalapala (aged 53 living at At Anthony's)
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Thalapala was working in a tobacco factory at 12 years old. He noticed red patches on his face, which began to spread over this body. Thalapala went to the centre when the swelling became unbearable, and they identified it as leprosy.

As a young child, he had no idea how grave the disease could be, but says that he was sadly looked down on and disowned by his family and community.

Terribly, Thalapala had to beg and live on the streets, but the centre took him in, giving him shelter and food as well as all the medical treatment. He trusts that they will take care of him for the rest of his life. He wants to be useful for them by operating a motor for running water for all the patients. 

What I would like the world to know about leprosy is not a curse but curable disease.