Pare Budha is a 46-year-old man affected by leprosy, he comes from the Laxmipur village area of the Dang District in Nepal’s Mid Western Region, the poorest part of the country.
He is married, and he and his wife have seven children – three daughters and four sons. The oldest of their children is aged 17. The land that he and his family members live on with other neighbours is unregistered, and is surrounded by forest. He moved there from the Siuri village area of Rolpa District because of the social stigma of leprosy, and because there was insufficient food in Rolpa.
He first came to the INF clinic in Ghorahi in Dang District several years ago. Because he had delayed coming for treatment he had already developed visible impairment to his hands and his feet. However, after a year’s regular anti-leprosy treatment he was cured, although his visible impairments remain unchanged.
Because of his impairments he is limited in what he can do. However, despite these impairments, by practising the self-care that he was trained in while he was an inpatient in INF’s Dang clinic he has been able to prevent his limbs from becoming even more badly damaged. In addition, the INF clinic in Dang regularly provides him with special protective footwear. There is no stigma about his leprosy in the community where he now lives and he is much happier. He is always very appreciative of the treatment and care that he has received from INF’s clinic in Dang.
Written by Man Singh Gurung.
Head, Care and Support Centre
INF Dang Programme
