World Lepers Day appeal

Today, the last Sunday of January, the world marks World Lepers Day. It was founded 50 years ago by Raoul Follereau who strived hard to help all those suffering from leprosy.

His appeal is broadcast around the world to raise public awareness of the lepers' plight.

Follereau died in 1977 but the appeal is still passed on by the International Union of the Raoul Follereau Foundation.

In his appeal this year, the foundation's president, Michel Recipon, said that although, since 1954, the research financed by the foundation has led to new treatments, there are all those others who:

¤ are affected by the disease but are not aware (not even doctors have diagnosed the disease since there were no visible signs of it);

¤ live far from health centres;

¤ are diagnosed too late.

"There are also those whom we succeed to treat before it is too late and who would otherwise increase the terrible number of 700,000 new cases annually," he says.

"This year we are doubling our efforts to organise ways and means for early diagnosis of people affected by the malady. But to reach this goal, and to render it successful, one must mobilise all the health corps, and this is very, very expensive!

"So we need your understanding and help. Let us not forget that leprosy is a disease that affects mostly those who live in misery and who live in under-developed countries. And such areas are the poorest in the world. Once these people are diagnosed, they have to be treated, which is a very expensive process as well.

"Moreover there are those who have been diagnosed too late. Besides there are those confined to their homes after having been successfully treated and cured, and who feel the need to go out and seek normal employment, thus regaining their place in society. Others unfortunately, will have to spend all their life as infirm. These must be catered for regarding food and lodging.

"Consequently, it remains our duty not to forget their predicament by giving them much needed help.

"We thank you heartily for your generosity."

The Order of Charity, Raoul Follereau Foundation's Malta office is at the Catholic Institute, Floriana.