Ramadevi

Ramadevi is 36. She works as a maid servant in people’s homes. She has 2 children aged 13 and 9.

“My husband deserted me in 2013.” He was an alcoholic and abused her. “I live with my mother and younger brother and my children.”

She developed patches on her skin in 2007. “I visited private doctors but no diagnosis was made until 2014 when the patches became red. A Government doctor thought it was leprosy and I was sent to Nallakunta Referral Centre. " She took MDT for a year but then got ENL reactions with fever and painful red spots on her skin. “I needed to take 8 steroid tablets a day to prevent the reaction. I have a painful ulcer on my leg which gets worse with stress.”

“My mother and I cried a lot after finding out I had leprosy as there was no father or husband to help, and my children were very young to look after. Only my mother and brother know the diagnosis. I avoid going to functions in case people notice my deformity and question me.”

Ramadevi has been helped with constant counselling at Nallakunta Referral Centre.

“My son is being provided with education support. He is studying English language. When I feel low, I think about my children and motivate myself to see them educated.”

“I suggest to newly affected persons that medication should be taken regularly and need not worry about the disease.”