Testimonials

Jagannadham & Kamlamma’s Story

Yerraballi Jagannadham and Kamalamma are residents of Miryalagudem Mandal…

Jagannadham & Kamlamma’s Story

Yerraballi Jagannadham and Kamalamma are residents of Miryalagudem Mandal, Nalgonda District, Telangana..
During Jagannadham’s early marriage days, he started observing the patches on the skin and the local (village) key influential people passed a resolution and separated the couple. With the disease progression, he later developed a claw foot. The local doctor took him to the Leprosy Health Care (LHC) Centre in Nalgonda district and admitted him as an in-patient member, where he received treatment. The LHC centre superintendent rehabilitated Jagannadham by appointing him as a Dhobi (washer-man) in the Leprosy ward..
He met a woman named Kamalamma at the health centre who was abandoned by her husband and parents. By that time, Kamalamma was married and the mother of a girl child. After she was confirmed with Leprosy, she faced discrimination, and no family/community member supported her and was finally avoided by her parents. Kamalamma faced many difficulties where she could not have even two meals a day. She did not get any work and as she is from a middle-class family, she could not go for begging. She joined in LHC for treatment in a pathetic situation with deformities (ulcer and claw Foot). This is when Jagannadham and Kamalamma liked each other and got married. Now, they are happy with 2 male children. .
Presently, they are living in St. Ann’s home. In the initial stages, they were not aware of the care to be taken for their hands, feet and eyes. LEPRA team identified the couple and educated them on self-care practices. They were provided with need based self-care material and efforts were being made for treating the ulcer for Kamalamma. They were provided with customised footwear and information on health care aspects. Also, the referrals were made to the local government institutions for getting ration and disability pension to them. St. Ann’s sisters provide them provisions on a weekly basis and shelter at their home..
Though the families abandoned Kamalamma and Jagannadham, Leprosy made them understand each other and start a new life journey that they are happily leading.

Muneer Khan’s Story

Muneer is a Tabla player for above 30 years. Muneer is married and has 5 children…

Muneer Khan’s Story

Muneer is a Tabla player for above 30 years. Muneer is married and has 5 children (3 sons & 2 daughters). The sons are going to a government school and the daughters are being looked after by Muneer’s brother considering his financial condition.
Muneer developed problems in his hands, pain and weakness when he was aged 20 while playing Tabla in Kolkata. He saw a doctor who recognised leprosy and started him on medication. My leprosy was also recognised by leprosy affected person in Banaras. I returned to Hyderabad and took treatment at LEPRA’s referral centre. He continued to get pains in his hands when he played the Tabla vigorously..
When he first came to know about the disease, he was terrified and upset that he was affected with leprosy. He was hesitant to get married because of his disease..
At the age of 42, his friends and mother convinced him to get married. He felt very sad that his mother died on the night of his marriage. And there has been unexpected deaths of few more family members when he was married. Everyone started blaming his wife and his marriage to be a bad sign..
No one knows that he has leprosy except his children. His wife only knows that he visits the doctor to take medication for body pains which are very common..
He is worried that his income is not being sufficient as the kids are growing up. Also, the home is very congested for his family. He is currently teaching Tabla along with playing at events rarely to earn some extra income..
He wants to let know the newly affected people that constant medication and adhering to doctor’s consultation helps the disease to be controlled and reduce the impact.

Appala Raju’s Story

Appala Raju, working from 25 years as a Shoe Technician with LEPRA, was tested COVID19. . .

Appala Raju’s Story

Appala Raju, working from 25 years as a Shoe Technician with LEPRA, was tested COVID19 positive in July 2020..
He learned the art of shoemaking from his father and excelled it. Appala Raju goes to hard-to-reach places along with a team and mobile footwear unit to collect the foot measurements, prepare footwear accordingly and handover to leprosy affected persons.
When the lockdown regulations were relaxed, he started his routine by going to villages with utmost precautions. During one of his visits, he was not feeling well and isolated himself immediately. The COVID19 test result came positive. He was even worried about his team as he was in contact with them but fortunately the team was tested negative for COVID19. Later, he was admitted to one of the COVID19 Care Centres for treatment. He did not inform his family about his condition as they might get worried and he was very far from his home. Once the test result came negative after few days, he went back home and informed his family members, they were terrified and took good care of him for a couple of weeks. Appala Raju is completely fine now and joined us back in August 2020 to make the customised footwear as he used to.
“I fought COVID19 and back to healthy life now. One needs to be mentally strong to fight the disease.” Appala Raju said.

Md Zakir’s Story

Zakir works as a driver in Hyderabad. His driving work is key as he brings…..

Md Zakir’s Story

Zakir works as a driver in Hyderabad. His driving work is key as he brings children to and from school every day.
A few years ago, Zakir developed deformities on his hands and feet.
He consequently spent a lot of time and money visiting private doctors, who were unable to find a diagnosis or treatment for him.
As a result his condition worsened over time and in 2015, he developed red patches of skin across his face.
He visited a hospital in Hyderabad and was finally diagnosed with leprosy. They referred him to LEPRA’s Nallakunta Referral Centre. Here he was prescribed multi drug therapy treatment for 12 months and shown important self-care practises.
Zakir was terrified of his diagnosis but LEPRA helped him better understand the disease and helped him tell his family about his diagnosis.
He is happy to live with his family and to live comfortably with them.
He wants his children to be successful and to not work as a driver like himself.

Papakanti Laxmi Devi’s Story

Laxmi first noticed she had numb patches and discoloration….

Papakanti Laxmi Devi’s Story

Laxmi first noticed she had numb patches and discoloration on her face five years ago. She visited her local healer, who prescribed her with herbal medicine, but this did not work for her.
She spent a lot of time and money travelling from doctor to doctor without receiving any answers. Her skin condition deteriorated during this period.
Eventually, a doctor recognised the symptoms of leprosy and she was sent to one of LEPRA’s referral centres. With a mixture of multi drug therapy and steroids, Laxmi began to get better.
The skin on her face became normal once again and the swelling of her joints lessened enough that she could return to work as a cotton picker.
During her treatment, Laxmi felt herself become very depressed. Her husband was very supportive, as were her three children, but she still felt afraid and isolated.
As the medication began to take its effect, Laxmi’s confidence grew and she ventured out into her village once again. Friends began to visit her more often and she even began encouraging others to visit the LEPRA referral centre and seek treatment with them.
She says, ““Be regular with your medication, be patient, it will work.”

Krishna’s Story

At just 12 years of age, Krishna was diagnosed with leprosy….

Krishna’s Story

At just 12 years of age, Krishna was diagnosed with leprosy. He first noticed numb patches and discolouration on his skin and was promptly diagnosed by a local field survey for leprosy.
During his treatment, Krishna suffered reactions to the medication and painful skin lesions appeared across his body. For fifteen years, he took medication and tried to work in his local village as a cow herder. No one would buy his milk because of his leprosy diagnosis.
As a young adult, Krishna was sent away from his family home and forced to live in a leprosy colony. Despite taking medication, his hands and feet were numb and he couldn’t work. He began begging in the colony, isolated and alienated from his friends and family.
While in the colony, Krishna married a woman and had five children. For years, he has suffered from a serious mental health problem. He often feels depressed and suicidal.
Krishna still suffers from discrimination and isn’t allowed inside local hotels and areas where food parcels are distributed for those struggling financially. He avoids using public transport so that he won’t be discriminated against.
“I feel lucky because I spent most of my life in a leprosy colony and did not face as much discrimination as other people, but there are days I feel alone.” Krishna said.
Now, Krishna refers people to LEPRA referral centres in the area. He sends about two people a month to our referral centres to get treated.

Inapanuri Nani’s Story

Two years back, the mother noticed pale coloured patches on Nani’s body and also clawing of the right..

Inapanuri Nani’s Story

Inapanuri Nani is the son of Narasimha Rao and hails from Arlapadu village of Gampalagudem Mandal in Krishna District. He is 16 years. Nani’s father died with tuberculosis in 2015. His mother had taken the responsibility of leading family as there is no other source of income. She started working as an agricultural labourer and earning a meagre income to meet the family needs. Nani has a sister too.
In his class 9th at the age of 14, Nani developed patches on his body and was referred by ASHA who is also a volunteer in one of the LEPRA Society projects to the nearby Primary Health Care Centre, Utukuru Village. The Medical Officer confirmed it as Leprosy and kept under 12 months of MDT (Multi-Drug treatment). During the treatment, Nani observed that he couldn’t write notes and hold objects with his right hand due to pain. He didn’t reveal this problem with anyone in fear. After 6 months, he informed his mother. Her mother bought him to the volunteer and both attended the IPOD camp. NFA was done and found that the nerves got affected and thus developed clawing in the right hand. Immediately, the team referred to the Vijayawada Referral Centre for sending him to Reconstructive surgery. The pre-operative and post-operative Physiotherapy was done by the team. Later, Nani could able to concentrate on his studies and stood as a class topper in 9th standard.
Considering the financial position of the family, Project had supported Nani for completing his 10th standard in 2018 under CHAHA educational grant supported by Oracle. He scored 9.2 Percentage in his 10th standard. The support from Oracle team under CHAHA education grant is helping children affected with leprosy and children from leprosy-affected families, where Nani is one among them. At one time, due to fear Nagendra, mother of Nani thought of discontinuing studies of Nani after completion of his schooling. The team counselled the family for continuing the higher education and Nani joined in Intermediate (M.P.C) in a local college. Nani wrote the first year Intermediate examinations and waiting for results. Nani aims to become an IT Professional in future. Nagendra (Nani) conveyed her heartfelt thanks to the team of Oracle for supporting the child’s education on time.

Panuganti Priya’s Story

Kumari Panuganti Priya, 8-year-old, d/o Nagesh, is from Koilkonda village, Mahabubnagar district, . . .

Panuganti Priya’s Story

Kumari Panuganti Priya, 8-year-old, d/o Nagesh, is from Koilkonda village, Mahabubnagar district, has been reported with skin lesions with the duration of 2 years and right-hand ulnar claw for one year. Her father Mr Nagesh has been treated the case with MB MDT (Irregular treatment) and he has anaesthesia over both hands and feet, ulcer over right hand. His daughter was diagnosed with Def 2, it shows that the healthy contacts screening was not done, if conducted, they could have detected early without a disability. She has a big skin lesion on the face, which might lead to developing lagophthalmos also in the future.
Mr Nagesh approached a private doctor at his village with his daughter, the doctor examined her and told that it may be a neural problem and referred to Niloufer Hospital, Hyderabad for further screening and treatment. At Niloufer Hospital, they examined and referred to Osmania General Hospital and they further referred to some private hospital, at last Nagesh stopped going to different hospitals because there is no improvement in his daughter’s condition.
Mr Nagesh is a daily wage earner and his wife is a maid-servant. They are economically poor. There are a total of 4 family members, his wife, and two children. Kumari Priya is in the 7th standard now, we have provided CHAHA education support to continue her education without any interrupt. She is going to school regularly. Her family is thankful to LEPRA and

Sai Lokesh’s Story

His mother Ms. Madhavi earns INR 150 per day working as a daily-worker at a chips manufacturing unit. . .

Sai Lokesh’s Story

Sai Lokesh, 12-year-old son of Late Sudhakar Y.S.R. Colony, Vizianagaram. He is studying 8th class at Kaspa High School, Vizianagaram. His mother Ms. Madhavi earns INR 150 per day working as a daily-worker at a chips manufacturing unit. She is the only income source for a family of 3.
The mother identified anaesthetic lesions on the right hand and right leg. He was taken to the child dermatology department of Maharaja Hospital, Vizianagaram. The superintendent, Dr. Sitaram diagnosed for Borderline Tuberculoid Leprosy and sent him to the referral centre for sensory and skin smear tests.
He was registered at the Vizianagaram referral centre on 7th June 2019 with reference number VZM 036/19. The skin smear examination turned out positive and in the sensory and nerve function assessment, they found anaesthetic lesion and tenderness on the right ulnar region.
The referral centre applied warm bandage with sling and applied lumbrical slab to stabilise the MCP joint. Based on Lokesh’s body weight (25 kgs), they started him with Prednisolone 20mg medication for 14 days. After the nerve tenderness and reactions were reduced, they taught him the active assisted exercises for strengthening muscles in the right hand. Lokesh continued the multi-drug therapy (MDT) after the course completion of prednisolone.
Lokesh and his mother were happy with the treatment. He is able to use his hand for normal operations now.

Shyamala’s Story

She first noticed something was wrong when she spotted pale patches of skin on her left leg. . .

Shyamala’s Story

Shyamala is 14 years old and lives with her parents and sister. Her family is economically weak and her mother suffers a severe disability due to polio.
She first noticed something was wrong when she spotted pale patches of skin on her left leg. She suffered ‘foot drop’, a common indicator of leprosy and she was unable to walk. During a school survey activity carried about by National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Shyamala was diagnosed with multibacillary (MB) leprosy and immediately stated multi-drug therapy.
During her treatment, she was referred to LEPRA’s referral centre in Eluru city of Andhra Pradesh, where she came across a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist assessed the weakness in her left leg and taught her exercises to strengthen the muscles to be followed regularly. She also began a regime of steroid treatment.
Shyamala adhered to the instructed exercises and was soon able to walk properly and play outside with her friends.
Her parents were worried after her initial diagnosis that her life would be ruined by leprosy, but Shyamala has proven that this is not the case and is now living an ordinary life like any other child.

Testimonials

Jagannadham & Kamlamma’s Story

Muneer Khan’s Story

Appala Raju’s Story

Md Zakir’s Story

Papakanti Laxmi Devi’s Story

Krishna’s Story

Inapanuri Nani’s Story

Panuganti Priya’s Story

Sai Lokesh’s Story

Shyamala’s Story

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