"Breaking the Stigma: Advocating for the Rights and Dignity of Leprosy Patients in India"
"Breaking the Stigma: Advocating for the Rights and Dignity of Leprosy Patients in India" During the British rule in India, the Dr. Bandorowala Leprosy Hospital was established by Christian missionaries to provide treatment for leprosy patients. However, during the period between 1960 and 1970, patients often delayed seeking treatment due to the stigma, fear, and lack of knowledge surrounding the disease. Leprosy was considered a curse of God, leading to severe deformities and disabilities. Moreover, medicines were not readily available, which further complicated the situation. Despite receiving treatment, many patients were not accepted back into their families, and some were even reported as dead in family records. Society shunned and boycotted them, and job opportunities were scarce. The discrimination against leprosy patients was a result of the deep-rooted stigma associated with the disease, leading to social ostracism and exclusion. Dr. Jal Mehta had...