The Ridge. March 2009

Dear Friends.

I read a most amazing book called The Island by Victoria Hislop. On the brink of a life-changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother's past. But Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before moving to London. When Alexis decides to visit Crete, however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to take to an old friend, and promises that, through her, she will learn more. Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is astonished to see that it lies a stone's throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, and at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daughters and a family rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip...

For centuries the word “leprosy” has generated fear and horror. Far from being a disease of the past, leprosy still affects the lives of millions worldwide – still bringing disability, rejection and social discrimination.

Every two minutes someone in the world is told they have leprosy! Yet most people in developed countries don’t know that leprosy still exists.

Leprosy is much more than a physical disease; it is a human rights issue leading to terrible social exclusion and injustice.

In many places leprosy is still seen as a curse or a punishment from the gods, and so a person diagnosed with leprosy can lose their job, their place in their community, even their husband or wife and children. As a result, many people, when they discover symptoms of leprosy, hide their symptoms for as long as possible, out of shame and fear. But delaying treatment only increases the chance that they will develop permanent deformities and physical disabilities. These just make their discrimination and isolation even worse than before.

But there is hope. Because better health care and education are being provided, the barriers of discrimination against individuals affected by leprosy are beginning to be broken down in their communities and family groups. Health professionals are being taught how to diagnose and treat the disease, and people with leprosy are receiving the medication they need. If leprosy is diagnosed early, the patient can be treated and completely cured with Multidrug Therapy (MDT). Those who do not receive treatment early enough, can still be cured of the disease and can learn to look after themselves to help prevent a life of disability.

The treatment which costs about £165 is life-changing:

“Today I have a hold on my life and dignity in society”: Because Mr Subramanian’s leprosy was successfully treated at a TLM hospital in South India; he is now happily married and able to earn a decent wage as a shoemaker.

The Leprosy Mission is a Christian Charity which works hand in hand with governments and with grassroots communities, with local NGOs, churches, partner and ex-patient organisations, to achieve a vision of a world without leprosy. Their expertise is in the detection, treatment, care, rehabilitation and reintegration of people and communities affected by leprosy. They share this expertise with government and health workers through projects and national training programmes. Around the world, The Leprosy Mission produces free resources to help schools, groups and churches raise awareness around the time of World Leprosy Day.

Jesus healed lepers. He reached out and touched them and in doing so transformed their lives for good. His action showed his power, his authority and his compassion. We are called by God to tell everyone that in his Kingdom everyone is valued, everyone matters. I think we should do more to support The Leprosy Mission. This Lent giving them a donation would be life changing to someone and a means of reaching out with Christ’s healing touch. Mirella

For more details, visit www.leprosymission.org. To make a donation, contact The Leprosy Mission: Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5GZ. Tel: +44 (0)1733 370505 Fax: +44 (0)1733 404880

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