Gospel for Asia’s Reminder of a Most Misunderstood Disease

Gospel for Asia is reminding the public that World Leprosy Day was observed this year on January 26. For more than 60 years, the last Sunday of January has been set apart and designated to remind people of this terrible, disfiguring and misunderstood disease.

Many Westerners still believe that leprosy no longer exists. The reality is that leprosy is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind affliction. In fact, the disease is still active in more than 100 countries. Brazil, Indonesia and India combine to account for 80 percent of the nearly 210,000 new cases of leprosy reported in 2018.

Four million people are currently disabled as a result of contracting leprosy.

Also known as Hansen’s disease, many people still believe the myth that leprosy is incurable. As of yet there is no vaccine to prevent leprosy, but the progression of leprosy can be stopped in an infected individual through a multi-drug regimen and improved hygiene.

Physiotherapy can restore lost strength. In many instances where there is early detection, restorative surgery can return functionality to hands and feet.

“We believe that every infected person needs to be treated with love and compassion,” says founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan. People with leprosy are often ostracized, driven out of their homes and communities, and consigned to leprosy colonies – enclaves of innocent people rejected by society because they have a misunderstood disease.

Despite medical advances to treat Hansen’s disease, many people, especially the millions of underprivileged and uneducated living in remote tropical regions, believe that leprosy is either inherited or inflicted as a punishment from God.

The Compassion Services arm of GFA-supported teams in Asia focuses on befriending and assisting leprosy patients who have been made social outcasts because they have contracted this misunderstood disease.

Gospel for Asia encourages the public to learn more about the need for leprosy ministry by clicking on the link.

Continue reading that online document to discover the impact of GFA’s leprosy ministry that supported more than 1,200 leprosy colonies in 2018 with healing, compassion, love and hope for the future.

About GFA World

GFA World (gospelforasia.net) is a leading faith-based global mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across the world, especially in Africa and Asia, and sharing the love of God. In a typical year, this includes thousands of community development projects that benefit downtrodden families and their children, free medical camps conducted in more than 880 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 163,000 needy families, and teaching to provide hope and encouragement in 110 languages in 14 nations through broadcast ministry. GFA World has launched programs in Africa, starting with compassion projects in Rwanda. For all the latest news, visit the Press Room at https://gfanews.org/news.