Leprosy Mission - New Bus for Anandaban Hospital Nepal

I was recently awarded a Youth Advocate Scholarship by The Leprosy Mission New Zealand to travel to Kathmandu Nepal. During that 10-day period, we spent time at Anandaban Hospital, community centres, and outreach clinics (satellite clinics). We observed leprosy and its treatment and management from a holistic perspective. We learnt both about the medical and surgical treatments and interventions, as well as understanding leprosy from a social aspect such as the associated stigma, isolation and discrimination.

Leprosy is a disease which attacks nerves in the hands, feet and face, making them weak or numb. Having leprosy has profound consequences for patients and their quality of life. To this day, many misconceptions still exist about this disease. Leprosy is a bacterial disease and CAN BE CURED by multidrug therapy. Often considered a disease of the past, leprosy in fact continues to affect millions of people around the world with a new child diagnosed every 30 minutes, and many known to continue undiagnosed. Despite leprosy being curable, many of those affected still experience stigma and discrimination that reduces their ability to access support and gain employment.

The nine 2019 Youth Advocates are tasked to raise funds for a new bus to transport hospital staff and medical equipment. Our target is $30,000 NZD, a sum of around $3,300 each. Reaching the most vulnerable communities in outlying areas of Kathmandu and rural Nepal requires reliable vehicles robust enough to deal with narrow unsurfaced roads. The deep potholes, landslides, erosion and loose gravel make for a very slow, bumpy ride. The new bus will enable hospital staff, medical supplies & equipment to be transported between the hospital and satellite clinics. This is significant as it will allow for much greater outreach to the wider regions of Nepal, and for many more people to be treated who would otherwise be unable to reach medical help, and therefore go undiagnosed and unaided.

It’s your kindness and compassion that enables us to bring positive change to the lives of the world’s most marginalised people. Please help us to reach our goal.