Nuwakot

Today, Jordan and I were able to travel up to Nuwakot with some of the Anandaban Socio-Economic Rehabilitation (SER) staff to visit one of their local self-help groups. TLM works is to improve the quality of life for people affected by leprosy, and in order to do that the social issues have to be addressed. It’s one thing to treat the physical aspect of the disease, but the social implications that it has can sometime be worse than the disease itself. Part of The Leprosy Mission’s goal is to reduce the level of stigma that comes with leprosy-affected people. This is where SER comes in, providing a plethora of things such as micro loans to help start businesses, vocational training, establishing self-help (or self-care) groups in different regions and villages, giving scholarships for education, allowances for low-cost housing, and toilets. They are also involved in anti-stigma campaigns that can include things such as skits, blood donation drives, and community gatherings.

Today was the second time I had been up to this specific village with these people, and can I just say…it is beyond a humbling experience. It’s nice to see “pokka Nepal” (real Nepal). Being up in the hills is drastically different from city life. Life seems to be quieter, slower, but also more challenging in ways. We met with the self-help group in the morning and then visited a patient's home.

 

Chairman of the community group

One of the leprosy patients who received a scholarship to continue her education (if understood correctly, she is in 2nd grade)

Mangal & Kashi (part of the SER team)

 

Jordan's just so tall here

Mangal was 18 when he found out he had leprosy. The only other person in his family to have the disease is his mother, who lives with him.  He found out about Anandaban Leprosy Hospital through his uncle who is actually the chairman of his village’s self-help group. He said that if he would not have been able to find treatment he thinks that he would have either been seriously deformed or even possibly died. He said that he was “very happy about the surgery because it stopped the tears; I always had tears before surgery”. Prior to surgery he was totally unable to blink his right eye due to the nerve damage caused by the leprosy. His family is very happy to have him home, and thankfully he has been able to integrate back into his community. SER has provided him with a micro loan that has gone towards his carpentry work, farming, and strawberry business. 

Sulachana translating

Mangal's wife, Sarumaya

When you first hear Mangal’s story it sounds so simple, but the reality is that not everyone is able to find treatment. So many are never able to reintegrate into their families, let alone their communities. If you think what could have been Mangal’s story, it is quite heartbreaking. Considering that his main work is carpentry and farming, his ability to provide for his family would have deteriorated as his hands and feet deteriorated. Over time, he would slowly lose his toes and fingers. No longer would he be able to tell if he had injured himself because he would never feel it, which often leads to infection…and that can most certainly be life-threatening. His wife, his children, his mother, who would take care of them? If you cannot farm where will you get your food? If you cannot work, how do you provide for your family? Your wife needs her husband, your children need their father, and your mother needs her son. And there is nothing you can do to change any of it. With no access to the treatment, so many things would be different for both him and his family. Anandaban provided Mangal and his family hope, the Hope. To me, it’s such a tangible expression of the compassion and love of the Father. TLM is just a vessel.

"It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness." -Lamentations 2:22-23

Mangal's family (minus his older son)

This is the heart of TLM, to eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy. I have been working along side the people here at Anandaban hospital and I can honestly say the values that The Leprosy Mission says they uphold are definitely represented in their work:

We strive to be:

Like Jesus

Motivated by the gospel

Compassionate

Holistic

Valuing each person, their families and communities

Working at every level of need

Professional

In our attitude, actions and management

Appropriate in our practice

Open

Working for authentic participation

Promoting dignity