I want to stop leprosy in our village, even in the nearby village. We want to live without leprosy.”
Maria (pictured) now travels to rural villages to find and help others with leprosy. Thank you for giving people like Maria the cure for leprosy and training to end this disease in their communities.
We have been blown away by the amazing generosity of Radio 4 listeners. You raised more than £178,435 for people affected by leprosy in Mozambique and we are so grateful. Every pound you gave before 24 April was matched by the UK government, bringing healing, transformation, and hope to people like Maria.
When Maria noticed discoloured patches on her body, often the first signs of leprosy, her husband abandoned her and their young son. Maria had seen what had happened to people with leprosy. She thought that like them she too would be rejected by her community and face a life of disability. But a Leprosy Mission worker gave her the cure for leprosy, a simple course of antibiotics, and changed her future. He taught her neighbours not to fear the disease. He even trained her to find and help other people.
Every year, more than 200,000 people like Maria are diagnosed with leprosy. But your generosity means that someone will be there to help them when they need it most. Your gift will help to cure people with leprosy and provide special training so that healthcare workers, communities, and people affected by leprosy themselves can fight poverty and disease. Both now and for years to come. Thank you for making this possible.
A special thanks also to Dame Darcey Bussell who met people affected by leprosy on a trip to Mozambique and has been a champion for their cause ever since.
Throughout the pandemic, our global team have continued to work tirelessly to help some of the world’s poorest communities. They have often put themselves at risk to make sure the most vulnerable people have the cure for leprosy and access to vital coronavirus treatment. To find out more about our work during the pandemic, .
If you’d like to hear more stories about the impact of your gift in Mozambique, please or .
On behalf of every person affected by leprosy who will live a life free from disability and rejection because of you, thank you.
Listen again
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The Leprosy Mission Dame Darcey Bussell presents the Radio 4 Appeal, 11 April 2021