“People still refuse to openly talk about leprosy in the village,” says Sakir. “They only visit the hospital when it’s too late.”

This was part of Sakir’s story, too. For five years, he lived with a strange skin condition but didn’t get diagnosed. He was busy farming and running a grocery shop to make ends meet.

Besides, Sakir wasn’t aware of INF’s Shining Hospital in Banke, a hour’s drive away. Shining Hospital focusses on treating people affected by leprosy and other skin conditions in this part of Nepal.

Privately worried about his condition, Sakir started taking medicine, but only got worse.

Finally, Sakir heard about INF’s hospital and bravely went to seek help. Straight away, he started getting the treatment he needed.

“If I had known about this hospital and my disease early, I wouldn’t have developed complications,” he reflects. “Since taking the hospital’s medicines, my conditions have significantly improved. I even get customised footwear every six months.”

Getting the message out

Sakir now realises how important it is for people with leprosy to get help earlier than he did. He tries to break the stigma of talking about leprosy in his community, showing people that it can be treated – the sooner the better. He recommends that his neighbours with skin conditions visit the hospital right away.

Sakir’s story illustrates why INF invests in community awareness initiatives in these rural areas. We need to break the stigma about leprosy and make sure that everybody knows about the treatment that is available, including the excellent Shining Hospital. It is wonderful to see people like Sakir helping to spread the word, too.