Charity helps women affected by leprosy reclaim their independence

Women affected by leprosy are receiving support and training to regain their independence and challenge discrimination in communities across Asia and Africa.

The Leprosy Mission says initiatives starting from transport access to community leadership training are helping women overcome the stigma, poverty and isolation that always follow a diagnosis.

The organisation has been encouraging women residing in communities affected by leprosy in India’s Andhra Pradesh state to make the most of a government scheme offering free bus travel for ladies.

Aid employees say the policy has opened up latest opportunities for individuals who previously struggled to afford transport or faced discrimination when travelling.

For many ladies affected by leprosy, even boarding a bus might be daunting.

Visible signs of the disease have historically led to social exclusion, with some people refusing to sit down beside them or questioning whether or not they ought to be allowed on public transport.

The Leprosy Mission works in numerous India’s estimated 800 leprosy colonies, helping residents understand their rights and construct the boldness to participate fully in society.

The change has been particularly significant for Sheik Unnisa Begam and Pula Laxmi, who live near Vizianagaram and each have disabilities resulting from leprosy.

They steadily have to visit town for medical appointments or travel to the charity’s hospital in Salur for treatment – journeys that were once difficult to afford.

Head of Programmes at The Leprosy Mission, Sian Arulanantham, said many ladies living with the consequences of leprosy have passed through years of severe prejudice and trauma.

“It takes real courage to board a bus when, up to now, people have refused them entry or, if allowed, others have refused to share a seat with them because their bodies bear the lasting scars of the disease,” she said.

She added that girls often turn into increasingly isolated following a diagnosis, sometimes falling deeper into poverty.

“Encouraging them to take up initiatives like free bus travel is a large step towards them regaining their independence and accessing latest opportunities” she stated. “So, it’s The Leprosy Mission’s role to make sure the women we work with find out about these opportunities that might be truly life-changing for them.”

The charity can also be working in neighbouring Nepal through its three-year Dignity First programme, which goals to reinforce the wellbeing and dignity of individuals living with leprosy, disability and destitution.

As a part of the project, a team of Female Community Health Volunteers has been bolstered across 4 districts.

More than 600 women have been trained to discover the primary symptoms of leprosy and direct those affected to medical care, helping to cut back delays in diagnosis and limit long-term disability.

Women who receive a leprosy diagnosis are encouraged to affix self-help groups where they develop skills in leadership, advocacy and self-care.

One participant, Dullari, from rural Nepal, said joining a self-help group transformed her life after she was diagnosed with leprosy.

At first, she hid her illness from everyone except her husband and felt deep shame in regards to the disease.

When tensions later escalated at home and he reacted violently, she initially believed it was something she simply needed to put up with.

Through the group, nevertheless, Dullari learned that abuse was neither inevitable nor acceptable.

As she rebuilt confidence and commenced generating income through training in sustainable farming, she found the courage to talk out about challenges faced by women affected by the disease.

She now serves as vice-president of her self-help group and represents the group’s work in meetings with local authorities, encouraging greater respect and equality for ladies in her community.

Arulanantham said the impact of empowering women can extend far beyond individuals.

“It strengthens families, reshapes attitudes and helps break cycles of poverty and discrimination which have continued for generations,” she said.

“Change often begins quietly, with one woman finding her voice. That voice can create a ripple that transforms communities. It is proof that when a lady rises, she rarely rises alone.”

Leprosy stays a serious health and social challenge in parts of the world despite being curable.

The disease is brought on by a bacterium that damages nerves and, if untreated, can result in disability affecting the eyes, hands and feet.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 172,000 latest cases of leprosy were diagnosed globally in 2024, with greater than half recorded in India.

The Leprosy Mission Great Britain operates in nine countries where the disease stays prevalent, combining medical treatment with programmes aimed toward improving sanitation, housing, education, employment and social inclusion for those affected.