We provide comprehensive services to
meet the total needs of people affected by leprosy
by:
Medicine providing people diagnosed with leprosy with modern
treatment - the Multi-drug therapy (MDT) as quickly as possible in order to
prevent deformity.
Hospital
care treating the complications of leprosy such as serious
ulcers or reactions, and providing surgery, intensive
physiotherapy or artificial limbs. TLM works through its own
hospitals, or undertakes to provide leprosy care in the
general hospitals of governments or other Non-governmental
organisations.
Prevention of disability
teaching patients and their families how disability can be prevented
through proper self-care. Also providing protective footwear and adapted
tools etc to remove dangers from daily life.
Community
awareness helping to break down the fear and stigma associated
with leprosy by teaching the true facts of the disease -
leprosy can be cured; isolation is not
necessary.
Rehabilitation helping people to lead as full a life as possible
after leprosy - accepted and socially integrated into their communities;
able to live meaningful lives; and financially and physically
independent.
Reconstructive
surgery restoring usefulness to affected limbs and correcting /
improving facial
disfigurement.
Vocational
training training
people in professional skills which will enable them to have a
steady job or set up their own small business.
Schooling removing the barriers which prevent leprosy affected
children from continuing their education, for example,
illness, poverty and stigma.
Training General Health
staff to fully
involve general health staff in caring for their own people by passing
on medical knowledge, skills and compassionate
approach.
Counselling and
spiritual care for
those carrying the emotional and spiritual wounds of
leprosy.
Integration enabling those affected by leprosy to live normally in the
community through housing projects or reunification with their families.
Long-term care
for people who cannot realistically be rehabilitated in the community due to
their disabilities or lack of supporting family.
General
medical services running services which complement the leprosy work, such as
skin clinics and eye camps.
Support
for Govt. programmes responding to government requests for help with training,
supervision, advice and funds.
Support
for churches
and local charities encouraging local Christians to include leprosy sufferers in
their concerns.
Research seeking answers to today's dilemmas to provide better care
tomorrow. Especially in the areas of disability prevention.
Eye care
an important aspect of the work as leprosy can cause blindness if eye
complications are not detected and cared for appropriately.
