Empowering Leprosy Patients and Reducing Stigma ‘For Life’: A Project of the Nepal Leprosy Trust
There has been a relationship between individuals in Ireland and LLSC for over 20 years now. Over the years, collaboration has taken the form of training of health practitioners, exchange of expertise, and a focus on various public health priorities. An ESTHER Start-up Grant has supported the group involved to formalise the partnership between the two institutions: LLSC and the Department of Public Health, HSE Mid West. The partnership will focus on improving surveillance and research capacities, strengthening the provision of preventative and equitable measures of healthcare addressed in the second phase of the NLT Village Alive programme. These initiatives include empowering individuals, families and communities affected by Leprosy and working to reduce (and eventually eliminate) existing stigma. Through the formation of self-care groups and patient training, partners will work to increase the quality of life for those affected by the disease. Since 2014, with assistance from Irish Aid and the NLT (Ireland), LLSC operate Leprosy programmes in four districts: Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, and Sindhuli.
For more information on this partnership, please click below to watch the HSE’s Dr. Anne Dee speaking at the 1st ESTHER Ireland Partnerships Forum, which was held in November 2016. Please also click here to read a short article on a partnership visit to Ireland by staff of LLSC.
Partnership Coordinators:
Dr. Krishna Bahadur Tamang (Medical Coordinator, Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital & Services Centre, Dhanusha, Nepal)
Dambar Bahadur Aley (Ag. Programme Director, Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital & Services Centre, Dhanusha, Nepal)
Dr. Anne Dee (Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Department of Public Health, HSE Mid-West, Mount Kennett House, Limerick, Ireland)
