New face for leprosy “A positive image for leprosy”

Leprosy has been a stigmatizing disease for centuries. Imagine yourself newly diagnosed with leprosy and while looking for information you find many negative images on the internet which reinforce your fears. The good messages, that leprosy is an infection curable with a 6 or 12 month course of antibiotics and is only mildly infectious, are hidden. We aim to alter this negative balance through the New Face for leprosy project showing leprosy patients having a normal life, working and having a family. In 2018 we photographed and interviewed patients in Ethiopia. They openly discussed their experiences, fears and hopes. When we showed these pictures in Ethiopia in February 2019, one patient said “we are beautiful”, a new way of looking at herself. We presented these positive pictures of people affected by leprosy at meetings and at the 20th International Leprosy Congress in Manila, in September 2019, and people affected by leprosy wanted this project to expand. We have photographed and recorded patient stories in India, to catch their voices. We asked them what had been tough and what had given them hope. Many patients had been delayed in diagnosis because their symptoms were not recognized by health workers. Many patients had tried natural or spiritual remedies. When told of their diagnosis most felt despondent and even suicidal and could not share their diagnosis. Participants had taken the 6 or 12 months’ course of anti-leprosy antibiotics that cures the disease. They had positive messages about taking antibiotics and knew that these were curative. They were often supported by staff from the referral centres and other patients. Women suffer a double jeopardy: they fear for their own position and worry about their daughters, fearful of the challenges in having a marriage arranged for them. These pictures show strong people who have overcome their diagnosis and even work in tough building and agricultural jobs. We shall be showing these pictures at exhibitions in London and India and around the UK. We are publishing these pictures in Leprosy Review and hope that it will stimulate recognition that people affected by leprosy are strong in overcoming challenges. These images will be available on the Lepra website. The project will be expanding to other countries. Globally about 220,000 new patients are diagnosed each year. A majority of these are in India. This work was supported by Lepra, Colchester UK and Lepra Society India. The patient interviews arranged by Lepra Society, India. Interviews and translation was done by Srinivas Yanamandra. All participants gave informed consent.


New face for leprosy "A positive image for leprosy"
Leprosy has been a stigmatizing disease for centuries. Imagine yourself newly diagnosed with leprosy and while looking for information you find many negative images on the internet which reinforce your fears. The good messages, that leprosy is an infection curable with a 6 or 12 month course of antibiotics and is only mildly infectious, are hidden.
We aim to alter this negative balance through the New Face for leprosy project showing leprosy patients having a normal life, working and having a family. In 2018 we photographed and interviewed patients in Ethiopia. They openly discussed their experiences, fears and hopes. When we showed these pictures in Ethiopia in February 2019, one patient said "we are beautiful", a new way of looking at herself.
We presented these positive pictures of people affected by leprosy at meetings and at the 20th International Leprosy Congress in Manila, in September 2019, and people affected by leprosy wanted this project to expand. We have photographed and recorded patient stories in India, to catch their voices. We asked them what had been tough and what had given them hope. Many patients had been delayed in diagnosis because their symptoms were not recognized by health workers. Many patients had tried natural or spiritual remedies. When told of their diagnosis most felt despondent and even suicidal and could not share their diagnosis. Participants had taken the 6 or 12 months' course of anti-leprosy antibiotics that cures the disease. They had positive messages about taking antibiotics and knew that these were curative. They were often supported by staff from the referral centres and other patients. Women suffer a double jeopardy: they fear for their own position and worry about their daughters, fearful of the challenges in having a marriage arranged for them. These pictures show strong people who have overcome their diagnosis and even work in tough building and agricultural jobs.
We shall be showing these pictures at exhibitions in London and India and around the UK. We are publishing these pictures in Leprosy Review and hope that it will stimulate recognition that people affected by leprosy are strong in overcoming challenges.
These images will be available on the Lepra website. The project will be expanding to other countries. Globally about 220,000 new patients are diagnosed each year. A majority of these are in India.
This work was supported by Lepra, Colchester UK and Lepra Society India. The patient interviews arranged by Lepra Society, India. Interviews and translation was done by Srinivas Yanamandra. All participants gave informed consent.

Muneer, photograph by Tom Bradley
I am 59 and I have been a professional tabla player for 30 years. I developed pain and weakness in my hands. I visited a doctor who recognised the symptoms of leprosy and started me on medication. I did not see improvement and stopped taking the multi drug therapy. I later resumed treatment, and took multi drug therapy again. 'That newly affected people should take constant medication and adhere to doctor's consultation, as it helps the disease to be controlled.'

Manikyamma, photograph by Tom Bradley
I am Manikyamma, 52 yrs old. I grew up in a leprosy colony in India. Both my parents had leprosy and I grew up understanding it was curable. In 2000 I was diagnosed with leprosy. I started on multi drug therapy and followed Lepra's advice on self-care and prevention of disabilities. After being cured I became a lab attendant at the Blue Peter Public Health Centre and trained to become a lab assistant. "There is no need to be worried about the disease. It can be cured through regular medication and treatment."

Muneer, photograph by Tom Bradley
I am 59 and I have been a professional tabla player for 30 years. I developed pain and weakness in my hands. I visited a doctor who recognised the symptoms of leprosy and started me on medication. I did not see improvement and stopped taking the multi drug therapy. I later resumed treatment, and took multi drug therapy again. 'That newly affected people should take constant medication and adhere to doctor's consultation, as it helps the disease to be controlled.'

Ramadevi, photograph by Tom Bradley
I am 36 and work as domestic help in several homes and support my two children. I developed numb, discoloured patches of skin on my body. The doctor did not diagnose my condition and prescribed medicines that did not help. My husband, an abusive alcoholic left me to raise our children and support the household financially.
At a Lepra referral centre I was diagnosed with leprosy and provided treatment. "Lepra provided me with counselling at their referral centre and it has helped me. Lepra are providing my son with educational support." Anasuya, Tom Bradley photograph I am 33 and married with one son. At 11 years of age I began to notice numb, discoloured patches of skin on my right thigh. I became suicidal. One day, I purchased some pesticide to drink, but I could not go through with it because of my older brother and grandmother. Local doctors misdiagnosed me and gave me herbal medicines, until one doctor finally recognised my symptoms and diagnosed me with leprosy. I took Multi Drug Therapy for one year and was eventually referred for reconstructive surgery. I began working as a 'lokodooth' -someone who educates ASHA workers about leprosy. "There is no need to get depressed about leprosy. It is like any other disease and it is curable with medicine."