leprosy and lepra health in action
DESCRIPTION
http://www.leprahealthinaction.orgLEPRA Health in Action transforms the lives of people affected by leprosy and other conditions exacerbated by poverty and discrimination.One person is diagnosed with leprosy every two minutes, one in ten is a child. Gaps in health care and fear mean late or no diagnosis for many people in endemic countries. The deformities, disability and discrimination that result are still ruining lives today.This presentation is part of a staff induction package introducing staff to the history of leprosy in Britain and the origins of LEPRA Health in Action, originally established in 1924 to ‘rid the British Empire of Leprosy’.TRANSCRIPT
Leprosy and LEPRA
Health in Action
How it all began
The History of Leprosy
Alexander the GreatKing Xerxes
Pompey Roman soldiers
Mediaeval Diagnosis
Mediaeval diagnosis was very hit and miss!
Religious justification
The ‘Death’ Sentence
A ‘leper’ with his bell (from a mediaeval manuscript)
The ‘leper’s clapper
‘Lepers’ were forbidden to…
• Enter churches, markets, mills, taverns, bakehouses or into any assembly of people
• Wash their hands or possessions in any spring or water course
• To touch anything except with their staff to show what they wanted
• To have intercourse with anyone except their spouse
• To touch children (even their own) or to give them any of their possessions
The ‘leper’s restrictions
‘Lepers’ getting water
A Change of Attitude
A knight crusader
Leprosy in Britain
Leprosy in Britain
The Death of Leprosy
The Formation of BELRA
Sir Leonard Rogers
Chaulmoogra Oil
The Triumverate
Revd. Frank Oldrieve
BELRA is born
On 31 January 1924, the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA) was launched, with the boldly stated aim “To rid the Empire of Leprosy”.
The Indian Council
BELRA leads the way
‘Tubby’ Clayton & ‘Toc H’
Revd. ‘Tubby’ Clayton with
‘Chippie’ in the 1950s
Overseas Workers
The first five
Dapsone – ‘The wonder drug’
The ‘King George V’ of BELRA - Dr. David
Molesworth
New Drugs
• 1940s Dapsone
• 1961 B663 – Clofazimine
• 1972 Rifampicin
• 1980 LEPRA Evaluation Project • 1991 Ofloxacin trials.
A Change of style
Dr. Kamuzu Banda opening the new LEPRA Headquarters in Blantyre,
Malawi
Going International• In 1973 LEPRA took over nation-wide responsibility for leprosy
work in Malawi.
• In 1975 LEPRA was one of the first associations to begin using multi-drug therapy.
• In 1976 LEPRA became a full member of ILEP (The International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations).
• In 1988 LEPRA started its first Indian projects (Bidar and Medak) since India gained Independence,
• In 1993 LEPRA began working in Brazil.
• In 1995 India reached 100,000 patients cured since inauguration.
Going Forward
LEPRA Health in Action has an illustrious past – one of which we should be very proud – but this was only the beginning….the best is yet to come.
For more information please [email protected] or
Tel. +44(0)1206 216730 www.leprahealthinaction.org