New Face for Leprosy 

Bilkis Begum is 60 and lives in a new house provided by the government for people with disabilities. She has 3 daughters and a son. Her husband died when her younger daughter was 1 year old. After the delivery of her last child, she developed skin patches. The doctor checking her recognized leprosy and sent her to receive treatment. However, she was alone and could not attend the clinic until her daughter was 4 years old, in 2012. She took treatment for 6 months and then 12 months. Her original skin patches improved, but some new ones appeared. Her legs are weak and anaesthetic. Her left hand is also anaesthetic. She does daily self-care of her hands and feet. She moved into her government house 10 months ago; she had been renting in the slum before that.

Her husband supported her with her disease. But after his death, her children left her. Her new neighbors treat her well. The biggest challenge for her is to earn enough by begging. Her message is that “leprosy patients have knowledge about the disease and should be listened to, even when they are of lower status like myself. The health authorities should take this disease seriously instead of ignoring it.”