Living with Leprosy: Stories of Resilience and Hope

 As the founder of an NGO working with leprosy patients and their families for over 12 years, I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals who have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. One such person is a lady I met while working in Kondhwa leprosy colony.

Curious about her story, I asked her how she contracted leprosy and how her family reacted. She shared that she was in fourth grade when her parents discovered she had leprosy. However, they did not seek treatment for her immediately, as it was not available in the area where she was studying, and the stigma associated with leprosy was very high. It took almost a year for her symptoms to worsen, and her parents finally took her to the government hospital in Pune, Dr. Bandorowala Hospital, where they left her for treatment and never returned to collect her.

She was a bright student, but the mental pressure and tension of being alone in the hospital without her parents caused her immense sadness. Her patient friends became her family, and after her treatment, she lost all the fingers in her hands and feet with no sensation. Despite this, her hope for living a fulfilling life remained. She began working at a leprosy rehabilitation center and started earning for herself.

She later got married to another leprosy patient who had also been cured, and they had a wedding ceremony with no family members in attendance. Together, they started living in a government forest area away from society to avoid discrimination and stigma. Eventually, they, along with other cured leprosy patients, formed a colony in Kondhwa, where they found acceptance and equality among themselves.

Today, at 65 years old, she has five healthy children who live normal and happy life. However, she still observes discrimination towards Hansen / Leprosy and feels sad about it. Despite the challenges she has faced, her resilience and determination have allowed her to build a life filled with hope and joy.

My message to society is - people affected by leprosy are just like everyone else and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They may face challenges due to their condition, but they have the resilience to overcome them and lead fulfilling lives. Society should focus on inclusion and support, rather than discrimination and stigma.


Thank you 

Satish Sawant 

President 

Apanga Leprosy Punarvasan Va Yuvak Sangathan Antulenagar - NGO

+91 -937-123-5680

email :- apysapune@gmail.com

Location: Kondhwa, Pune, Maharashtra, India

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