Peterborough charity praised for work to help end the world's oldest disease

The Leprosy Mission’s Unconditional Appeal launched at the weekend and is championed by the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, and ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell.

The Unconditional Appeal seeks to help rid Mozambique of leprosy by creating a sea change in attitudes towards leprosy. Pillars of the community including traditional healers, religious leaders and village chiefs are being trained as ‘Leprosy Changemakers’.

A Leprosy Changemaker is a voluntary role teaching people to recognise the early signs of leprosy and signposting them to treatment. Crucially Leprosy Changemakers are tasked with quashing stigma surrounding the disease and making sure people affected by leprosy are able to thrive in their communities.

The Unconditional Appeal has been awarded UK Aid Match funding meaning every pound given before 24 April 2021 will be doubled by the UK government.

National Director of The Leprosy Mission, Peter Waddup, said: “Leprosy hides in the rural communities of Cabo Delgado, the troubled northern province of Mozambique where we are working.

“It disables and tragically tears lives apart as all too often people are cast out from their families and communities as leprosy is so feared.

“While our colleagues in Mozambique could run health camps to treat people with the disease, they know that it takes more than medicine to rid the country of leprosy.

“Leprosy is so deeply entrenched in fear and misunderstandings that it takes a change in the culture of a community for those showing the early signs to seek treatment.

“It is the role of Leprosy Changemaker to tell their community about leprosy and that it is simply a curable disease, as opposed to a curse or punishment."

Rt Revd Allister became Vice-President of The Leprosy Mission in 2017. Last year he travelled to Bangladesh with Mr Waddup to rally the support of church leaders in the capital, Dhaka, to join the mission to end leprosy.

Rt Revd Allister said: “Working at a grassroots level is the only way to end leprosy. We need to create a sea change in culture so people can see leprosy for what it really is, an easily-curable disease.

“I am delighted to hear faith leaders in Cabo Delgado are taking on the mantle of signposting people with leprosy to treatment.

"Crucially they are caring for them at a time when they need it the very most, on their journey through diagnosis to cure.”

Churches in Peterborough and across the UK are supporting The Unconditional Appeal by helping to build Community Hubs, or Hubs of Hope, from which to lead the fight against leprosy. The hubs are a space where Leprosy Changemakers can be trained and health camps can take place so that communities can learn about leprosy through traditional songs, dance and drama.

The hubs also provide a beating heart to communities and somewhere where every villager can prosper. Farmers can learn how to protect their crops from extreme weather and sell surplus produce to provide an income. The seeds of small businesses are also sown in a Hub of Hope giving opportunities to young people.

Rt Revd Allister said: “There are many things Jesus did that we are simply not able to do. But reaching out to people affected by leprosy is something we can do and something

that the church should do. “We should be working with the most marginalised in society today so that they can thrive in their communities. It is only by doing this that leprosy will finally be consigned to the history books.”

Dame Darcey Bussell’s connection with those affected by leprosy began in 2017, at the height of her success as a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

She said:"I was privileged to travel to Mozambique with my family and wanted to show my two teenage daughters The Leprosy Mission's work. I had heard about it from a local vicar in London who had inspired me to meet people affected by leprosy and hear their stories.

"What I didn't expect was for this encounter to change me so much. The injustice experienced by so many people with leprosy has weighed heavy on my heart since."

As a result, Darcey is championing The Leprosy Mission’s new Unconditional Appeal. She has created a film taking the viewer deep into Mozambique. Visit www.unconditionalappeal.org.uk to watch Darcey’s film or donate.