New Face for Leprosy 

Papakanti is 30 and works as a cotton picker. She’s married with three children (14, 20, 22), all of whom have had or are being educated. “My eldest is doing her Teacher Training degree.”

“4-5 years ago, I noticed patches on my face and arms. I visited a healer who prescribed herbs. After that didn’t work, I went to various clinics and doctors but they did not know it was leprosy, they thought it was from an animal bite. Eventually a doctor suspected leprosy and I went to the Referral Centre where I was successfully diagnosed.”

Papakanti took MDT for a year as well as steroids for the reactions.

“My hands, face and feet were swollen and I could not work.” The swelling and patches lessened once she was taking MDT, and she did return to work. “But I was unable to work for 3 years because of my leprosy reactions. One month after starting medication I was able to use my hands to grip again. Though I still have weakness in my grip.”

“I was depressed after my leprosy diagnosis and stayed inside. I felt confident once the medication started working.”

Her husband was very supportive and comforting. “The staff at the Centre were also kind.”

“Everyone in my village knows about my leprosy. They were afraid I would die before I had my treatment. Very few people avoided me in the village. Now I am cured, people visit my house.”

She told other patients when at the Referral Centre about the benefit of taking MDT. “Be regular with your medication, be patient, it will work”.