Lepra News - Winter 2022

LepraNews

Giving ‘Shoesday’

independence

Real stories from the real people Your support has helped

Welcome

latest edition of Lepra News!

In July, I visited Lepra’s programmes in India, for the first time since I joined Lepra earlier this year. It was a truly great visit, and I got the chance to experience first-hand the extent and impact of the important work our teams do across the country.

One day, we made some visits to the homes of people affected by leprosy. We met powerful community champions, who welcomed us into their homes with open arms and told us their stories – with all the challenges and trials that they have had to face in the world. It was inspirational to hear how they have overcome their life challenges over time, and how Lepra has helped them along the way.

The conversations were so good that we ran out of time and had to cancel the last home visit, and rush off to our next meeting instead.

Later on, our last meeting of the day was at the local health centre, where we met the clinical staff who provide leprosy services, to hear about the work they do. As we came out of the meeting, an old man in white robes was looking and smiling at me in the corridor. One of our staff introduced me to him:

“This is Mr. Rayala Brahmam. He’s the man you were supposed to visit this morning in his home, but had to cancel. He was sad that he didn’t get the chance to meet you, so he walked to the hospital to meet you here instead.”

I was touched, and we had a long chat. He told me his story, about how he was

diagnosed with leprosy 16 years ago, and took the drug cure, but not before he experienced problems in his feet, which now significantly impair his movement.

I asked him, “But you walked here, how far was it?”

“It’s OK” he said, “It’s only about 3 miles, and I have my shoes, which make things better.”

And in that one sentence, he left such an impression on me. His determination to walk so far, when it is so hard for him to walk at all. And all because he wanted the chance to meet me. And the fact that the specially made shoes he wore –made by Lepra – were the thing that enables him to walk anywhere at all.

For people affected by leprosy, appropriate and tailor-made shoes are a life-changing support. And this is why Lepra focuses so much on making and manufacturing these special shoes in India and Bangladesh.

In this edition of Lepra News you will read about our Giving Shoesday appeal that launches in late November. I hope you feel inspired to learn more about our work making shoes, and feel moved to support our campaign so that we can keep on making life-changing shoes for people like Mr. Rayala

Brahmam

to your

Jimmy visiting a Lepra mobile footwear unit

It is a day where everyone, everywhere can do something to support the good causes that mean so much to them. It is a truly is celebrated on the Tuesday following the wellknown shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on November.

For Lepra, Giving Tuesday has become our ‘ Shoesday’, an annual celebration of everything that shoes and footwear represent, for people with leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF).

Lepra have a long history footwear, stretching back to the 1960s. The nerve damage caused by leprosy leaves people vulnerable to burns, cuts, ulcers and injuries that can potentially lead to severe damage to fingers, toes, hands and feet. For decades, footwear has played a vital role in the prevention of permanent disability.

More recently, footwear have also taken on an important symbolic value, which extends far beyond their physiological and protective benefits. They have come to represent the very rights, hopes and expectations we all share as humanbeings. They are a symbol of dignity, a symbol of independence and a symbol of freedom

Lepra’s protective footwear helps people to retain their employment and livelihood, to access

Lepra’s protective footwear are custom-made at our referral centres and mobile footwear units by our specialist technicians, from a special material called multicellular rubber (MCR). Our modern from other shoes and sandals, with the wearer given the choice of different styles and colours. Choice is important. It is an important step in giving someone back , at a time where so many are living in fear of their diagnosis and what the future

This year, Lepra are once again holding our fabled . With footwear donated from some familiar faces and household names such as Dame Judi Dench, Danny John-Jules, Rory Mcllroy, Hannah Cockroft MBE, Virat Kohli, Sir Tony Robinson and more! Visit our web-page to get involved and to watch two very special ‘Giving Shoesday’ video messages from the amazing Dame Joanna Lumley OBE and Danny John-Jules www.lepra.org.uk/get-involved/givingshoesday-2022

Giving Tuesday is a uniquely special day for Lepra.

Time for CHAI For Sylhet’s Tea Growers

is a persistent problem in the tea-growing area of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is the world’s ninth-largest tea producer. There are about 100,000 registered workers and 30,000 seasonal workers in 167 tea estates. The total number of tea workers and their families is estimated to be around

Geographical exclusion from the National Leprosy Programme, combined with a poorly funded and under-equipped local health system has resulted in poor case detection and a lack of early treatment

grim situation as they had no money to buy food when the pandemic struck. Food prices also increased during this

Bangladesh’s strict lock-downs forced the workers into even more severe conditions, and many poor nutrition levels. People affected by leprosy, with ulcers and other problems, were often unable to visit hospital for follow-up due to lock-down and economic

CHAI project will work directly with 240 people with the most immediate

Mr Suresh Robidas is 65 and lives and works at the Shamshernagar Tea Garden, in northeastern Bangladesh.

His wife sadly died 15 years ago, leaving him as the sole earner, supporting a family of five. In 2015 however, he started to notice a concerning deterioration in his health. He was admitted to the tea garden clinic, where the local medical officer suspected he had leprosy.

A lack of active case finding (ACF) and early medical intervention, resulted in Mr Robidas developing permanent disabilities in his hands and feet which had prevented him from being able to continue in his physically demanding job. To help the family, Mr Robidas’ son took on his responsibilities as a tea farmer, helping to maintain an income for the family.

Mr Robidas was admitted to the HEED Bangladesh Hospital, where he received urgent medical care, including Multi Drug Therapy (MDT). To help his recovery and ongoing management of his disabilities, he was referred to Lepra’s local self-care group, where he learnt techniques and received the items needed to care for his condition.

As part of his ongoing care, Mr Robidas received custom-made sandals from Lepra’s specialist shoe technicians, which have played a significant role in maintaining his independence.

Thankful for the support he has received, Mr Robidas is looking to the future once again, and even planning to start a business from his home.

Coming up this winter!

Get ready for double donations!

Launching on Giving Tuesday, and with support from wonderful and committed donors who have pledged donations to our matched funding pot, we are once again running our ‘£1 from you, we get two’ appeal. At the time of printing, the matched pot currently stands at £50,000, but is certain to increase. Visit our website to see updates and to find out more!

29 November to 31 March 2022

www.lepra.org.uk/get-involved/appeals

Giving Tuesday 2022

We’re super excited to share that celebrities such as Hannah Cockroft MBE, Dame Judi Dench, Virat Kohli, Rory Mcllroy Danny John-Jules and Sir Tony Robinson have donated to our celebrity shoe auction. Each pair of famous footwear sold will raise much-needed funds to support our work.

29 November

Our online auctions will be live with these fabulously-famous shoes from 25th November to 4th December.

Visit our Giving Tuesday web-page to see special messages from Dame Joanna Lumley and Danny John-Jules!

www.lepra.org.uk/get-involved/givingshoesday-2022

World Leprosy Day 2023

Supported by our global friends and partners, we will use this day to highlight the systemic injustice that people affected by leprosy face, every single day. Visit our website to see our WLD23 updates!

29 January 2023

Get involved in our fundraising by visiting lepra.org.uk/get-involved/ fundraise

Giving ‘Shoesday’ at Lepra’s pioneering approach to healthcare in remote areas of the

ften the most vulnerable communities who are most susceptible to leprosy, are also the most geographically isolated.

For decades, Lepra have understood the importance of providing services to people who are without the ability or means to travel to regional medical centres, which historically have often lacked the specialist knowledge to correctly diagnose and treat people affected by leprosy

To this day, the provision of specialist services within remote communities remains one of Lepra’s key aims, vital to the successful control of leprosy in the longer term. A range of important services are delivered remotely including; awareness raising campaigns, early case detection, the provision of Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) medication, emotional healthcare, teaching self-care practice and of course, our mobile custom-made footwear

During the 1960s, the humble Land Rover enabled Lepra to reach largely inaccessible areas in Africa, such as Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and the Republic of Zambia. Lepra’s three Land Rovers, used in Malawi, were painted with LEPRA in large, distinctive red lettering on the side.

Before the introduction of the Lepra Land Rover in Malawi, Lepra’s medics were able to visit fewer than 50% of reported cases. The vehicles served as mobile field clinics, which over the course of 19651975, enabled the charity to double the number of people treated for leprosy.

Lepra’s archivist, Jane Hadcock explains“Prejudice and discrimination became nonexistent because the Land Rover became a beacon to villagers and townspeople –something to celebrate rather than shy away from. Land Rovers started a revolution in the treatment of leprosy, and we therefore see them as a very positive part of our history.”

Lepra’s Land Rovers became an icon, a symbol of for a neglected people who otherwise would be destined to develop serious disabilities and other health complications, which would impact their lives in unimaginable ways.

As a sign of its place in the national collective Corgi Toys even made a model version of the Lepra Land Rover, which is now a rare collectable. If you happen to own one of these scarce collectables, please do get in contact, we would love to hear from you!

In September, Land Rover Owner International Magazine (LRO) covered the history of Lepra’s pioneering use of these amazing vehicles. In preparation for our centenary in 2024, we are on the lookout for a UK-based Series Land Rover owner to take part. We hope LRO magazine can help to match us with a willing owner! Read more here:

www.lro.com/blog/news/how-lepra-

Awesome Azaan Meets Lepra’s Team

In July, Lepra received an astonishing donation from a brilliant young man called School, Kingston Upon Thames.

Azaan, age 12, attended a presentation about Lepra’s work at his school, and learnt about

To thank him for his awesome achievement, Lepra invited Azaan and his family to the Lepra offices in key figures

LEPRA Society India and Lepra Bangladesh, who were meeting for the first time since the pandemic began. This was a great opportunity to speak with the people who are responsible for implementing Lepra’s projects and programmes overseas, and to their conversation, but perhaps the most

“So why do people still get leprosy if our raising, early case detection, advocacy enduring prejudice and discrimination , our colleagues thanks, directly from the teams working at Lepra’s referral centres and some of the people who will benefit from Azaan’s www.lepra.org.uk/news/article/azaansawesome-achievement

Drink tea, eat cake and change lives!

Celebrate and support women, men and children affected by leprosy by hosting a life-changing tea!

What better excuse to get together with your friends for an afternoon of tea, cake and fundraising? Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary or even Christmas, your fundraising event is as easy as 1, 2... tea!

Making a success of your life-changing tea couldn’t be easier!

All you have to do is keep the hot drinks flowing, ensure you bake or buy lots of tasty treats like scones and cakes for all of your guests, and simply ask for a donation in return.

You will have a lovely time with your guests and the icing on the cake is that the funds you raise will fight healthcare inequality and help women, men and children in India and Bangladesh access leprosy treatment easily.

A donation of just £6, can provide a pair of life-changing shoes!

With our ‘£1 from you, we get two’ campaign starting on 29 November, your fundraising efforts can be doubled! This will allow Lepra to support even more people in the world’s most vulnerable communities, such as the tea farmers of Sylhet