Physical rehabilitation
Mobility aids and appliances allow patients disabled by leprosy and other causes to lead independent and productive lives.
Socio-Economic Rehabilitation
Micro-finance schemes for leprosy and disabled patients enable former patients to be economically independent and gain respect in their communities.
Health Education
General health workers and medical assistants are trained to detect leprosy early on. This ensures prompt treatment is provided, which helps prevent disabilities caused by anaesthetic hands and feet.
Advocacy and Community Awareness
Ignorance about leprosy leads to fear and stigma of the disease. Through community awareness talks, radio and TV programmes, patients are encouraged to seek treatment and counselling where necessary. Negative attitudes towards people affected by leprosy are being challenged, and real change is taking place.
Darfur
Work in Darfur is currently concentrated in Nyala , El Fashir and Geneina. TLM works in partnership with the disabled people’s organizations in each of these areas. Self-help groups and advocacy on behalf of disabled people are just some examples of activities involving these disabled people’s groups.
A leprosy-affected member of the Society of Disabled in Geneina sums up why TLM’s efforts to integrate clients into the group are so beneficial. “We as people affected by leprosy were isolated and alone. If anyone saw a person with leprosy they would just hate us. Now we have become part of the disabled group. We join them in meetings and discussions. You feel that people do not hate you and that you are like any other person. We have come out of isolation.”
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