SUCCESS STORIES

Musafir, a film on migration and leprosy

This is a story of Migration & Leprosy in India. The Indian health system well caters to the needs of people affected by leprosy to ensure their state of both mental and social well-being. The video was developed as part of a study on Migration & Leprosy in India being implemented by Swiss Emmaus Leprosy Relief Work India in collaboration with the Government of India, WHO India, Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL), ILEP India, & ChangeScape Consulting.

Abhilash dreams to become a “Star Dancer” Deformity cannot stop me

Madugula Abhilash, a student of 8th Class hailing from Alrapadu Village is supported by his father who works as a cobbler. Abhilash is fond of his dancing talent and has performed on-stage in several instances, leaving the audience awestruck spellbound.

He was diagnosed with hyper lesions on his right arm. Upon consultation at the Primary Health Care Center in Lakshmipuram, he was referred to Government General Hospital, Vijayawada, where his Multi-Drug Therapy was started. After a year of his MDT completion, he was referred to one of our partner hospital in Kathipudi, Rural India Self Development Trust (RISDT) At RISDT, the doctors were amazed to hear about the boy's passion and excitement even after leprosy diagnosis. Reconstructive surgery was carried out at RISDT hospital. Where the implementation of pre-operative and post-operative procedures was taken care We call it a success because soon after the treatment, Abhilash gave his first performance on stage at a marriage function, once again leaving his audience spell

Abhilash at a marriage function where he performed, leaving his audience spell-bound.

Chinnaraju after surgery is back to his normal life

Sailing through life, happier ever after body

Hailing from the Palam Village in East Godavari district Ardhani Chinnaraju is 19 years old living with his father, mother and siblings along the shores. His family is into fishing business to support their livelihoods and so is the boy fond of the chore.

Amongst his usual days, he once observed an unusual swelling in his left elbow joint. And was referred to our partner hospital RISDT. Wherein the team of experts took a thorough examination of his issues and prescribed with Multi-Drug Treatment. Post the completion of the MDT he was assessed, and it was revealed that his ulnar nerve was thickened and was not in proportion. Acting swiftly our experts gave him the necessary treatments. Post operation the young chap has been sailing through the oceans and fishing with his father. While most take time to recover from post-surgery trauma, he has been an inspiration to many alongside the village. We pray for his healthy and wish good luck for his future endeavours.

An aspiring police officer, fights hansen’s disease body

Aged 25 years old and rejected from police sections, an aspiring youth who defeated a disease to stand against the destiny. Mr. Shrinivas, a resident of K. R. Palli, in Kalaburghi district lives with his parents and two elder brothers. He is a graduate and wished to serve as a police officer.

With his history of Leprosy dating back to 2018 and MDT treatment. Shrinivas developed a deformity in both his hands while undergoing the MDT treatment. But this did not break his spirit rather Shrinivas went ahead and consulted the District Leprosy Officer, who advised him to visit Hubli Hospital for Handicapped. After his admission at the hospital he was given a reconstructive surgery for both his hands. The physiotherapy sessions helped him recover soon and corrected the deformity to a commendable extent. The photo can show his happiness post-surgery when both his hands were corrected, and he was able perform his daily chores efficiently. We wish him a good luck and pray for his success.

Shrinivas, happily posing for the picture with a smile post treatment completion.

Mr. Sataiyappan after surgery is back to his normal life.

Mr. Sataiyappan – a self-motivated and self-made businessman body

Mr. Sataiyappan, a resident of Palakkarai Melacauvery village in Kumbhakonam district is a self-made businessman, happens to run a building construction material shop. It was observed that Mr. Sataiyappan, had deformities in his hands and legs post treatment of MDT and was given a reconstructive surgery (RCS). However, things did not go along for him.

While in treatment due to the severity of disease one of his leg was amputed. This turned out to be a changing phase for him, while most people cursing their fate and God for the deals. Sataiyappan approached the rehabilitation centre of SHLC with dream and determination in his eyes. He was granted financial help to setup a building construction material shop in the locality. Aware about the in’s and out’s of the business Sataiyappan wrote new chapters of success in no time and came out with flying colours. SHLC regularly audits his business and is happy to share that Sataiyappan is now a successful self-made businessman. He is a true idol for people to be motivated. No matter what life throws at us just be positive and live it.

Fighting the odds winning life, iron lady of Kavitha body

A 32 year old lady dependent entirely upon local farmlands to earn her daily wages, Mrs. Kavitha Chavan is a resident of Kakkasagiri village in Yadagiri district of Karnataka. Her village happens to be on the borders of Maharashtra and Telangana where majority of population is dependent upon the agriculture for their life support.

During her treatment for PB type leprosy, Kavitha developed a deformity in her left hand, unable to perform her daily chores severely affecting her household finances. Things became even worse when her neighbours and family members started parting their ways, sending her in to depression. Later, upon being admitted to our partner Hubli Hospital for Handicapped (HHH) she was advised to undergo a reconstructive surgery of her hand. Post surgery Kavitha’s life has changed to a new entirety of happiness and confidence. She now handles her family performing all the farmland activities.

Mrs. Kavitha happily showing her treated hand post-surgery

A D Surya Prasad, posing with his Player of the Tournament trophy

“Player of the tournament wins deformity”

Mr. Allada Durga Prasad, ages 18 and is an admirer of Indian nationa sports hockey. During his childhood days, Surya imitated playing hoceky like any other kid with bamboo sticks and umbrella rods. Less was it known at the time that he would conquer the fields and also be prized as the player of the tournament.

The boy is a resident of Nakkapalli village in Visakhapatnam District. Admiring his enthusiasm and commitment towards the game his maternal uncle, a Police Officer by profession guided him in joining the defence school at Danapur Cant, Bihar. Surya’s father is a middle class man and the sole bread earner in his family, working as a driver. Once while practising hoceky Surya, witnessed an inconvinince in holding the stick formally. Acting quickly our of curiosity, he returned to his native place for a consulatation. His uncle on the suspicion, brought him to RISDT for consultancy – where his case was found to be a PB. Without any further ado he was registered and the designated medications were started. Particularly, keeping his dream in mind, special physiotherapy session were arranged for his right palsy hand. After rigorous physio treatment and exercises for three months continuously, his hand acquired normalcy. As of now he is in “Army Boys Sports Company” at Danapur Cant, Bihar and has completed education upto secondary level. To his credit, he was awarded “Player of the Tournament” trophy at the IX Sub. Jr. National Hockey Tournament held in Chattisgarh. Surya aspires to represent India at the international level. The boy has got some real good talent bestowed upon him from the almighty, it was your support and belief that the country would get a shining player in its team.

Beera - a 9y/o dreames to be a Software Engineer

Master Beera is a 9y/o boy who dreams and aspires to become a software engineer, son of an autod driver father and a workign tailor mother, he has two sibings. He has been an intelligeng kid since beginnign and is praised for his commendable academic records. For a 9 year old kid he also posses a unique talent of writing poeties in english.

Like a very normal day whe Beera was spending time with his famly. His mother noticed an unusual white colured patch on his back. It triggered an alarm in her mothelry sense to awhic she acted rapidly and visited the Rural Self India Development Trust (RISDT) kathipuddi, one of our partner hospitals. He was examined at the center and it was observed that he had a confirmed case of pucibacillary leprosy (PB). An immediate medication of Multi-Drug Therapy was started for the child considering his young age and that it can be treated at this early stage more efficeintly. Beera visits the hospital regularly for timely consulattions and is leading a real happy life.

Beera practising his software skills.