New Face for Leprosy 

Bijli Rani is 47 years old. In 2012 she developed 30 spots all over her body and thought they were an allergic reaction. A health worker noticed her spots when she was accompanying her husband for TB treatment. She was found to have leprosy and started treatment immediately which lasted 12 months. 

LEPRA brought together a group of affected people with 5 members called Shagarika. Since then Bijli has been finding new patients and communicating with others affected by leprosy and helping them to get the right treatment. She wants other people to avoid the suffering she experienced. She goes door to door finding people with leprosy symptoms. After completing the 1 year course of antibiotics all those spots disappeared and her sensation improved. But one finger of her hand has less sensation and is weak. She has lost sensation in one foot. She had an ulcer on her left toe which can be painful inside and she took extra medicine for 3 months. 

Now she does self-care as the doctors instructed regularly and trains other patients. She has two pairs of special shoes and 2 pairs of sandals provided by Lepra which she uses for outside work. When the doctor told her she had leprosy, she was afraid but he reassured her that it is a curable disease. Her neighbours did not know or have any understanding about leprosy. Her family knew about it, but they were at her side. 

The biggest challenge she faced is to connect suspected leprosy-infected people with the health care system. She has connected 65 patients herself. She is proud of her family, her husband supports her always and he does laundry from home. Her elder daughter (28 years old) has completed post graduation and now works in the NGO BRAC since getting married. The next daughter is studying to graduation level and working for ICDDRB in a TB project. Her younger son is studying higher secondary level and has training for glass settings. She is very proud of them.

Image: Bijli with her middle daughter who works for ICDDRB, and Bijli out in the community advocating leprosy to the neighbourhood.