The Catriona Hargreaves Charitable Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1064838
The later effects of an untreated
leprosy infection involve crippling
and loss of limbs. A limb-building
centre to deal with these problems
was initiated in this hospital to
deal with the effects created by
the Vietnam war and the
subsequent trade embargo.
A later visit revealed that many
of the previously bed-ridden patients
were now much more independent
and the centre also served the
disabled from a very wide area around.
leprosy infection involve crippling
and loss of limbs. A limb-
was initiated in this hospital to
deal with the effects created by
the Vietnam war and the
subsequent trade embargo.
A later visit revealed that many
of the previously bed-
and the centre also served the
disabled from a very wide area around.
LEPROSY
Leprosy (which is also known as Hansen’s disease) is caused by
a bacterium which is similar to that which causes tuberculosis.
It is still a major health problem in developing countries,
although largely eradicated from Europe. In 2004 over
400,000 new cases were diagnosed of which about 70% were
from India.
On infection the leprosy bacillus attacks the nerves of
the face, hands and feet and removes the ability to use limbs.
The ability to feel pain is also affected, leading to burns and other
injuries which are prone to infection and eventually leads to the
loss of hands, feet and sight if care and treatment are not available.
The longer the disease is left undetected and untreated, the
more probable it is that the deformities associated with leprosy
will occur.
Multi-drug therapy cures the majority of patients
within six months and the more infectious patients within
a year. Unfortunately leprosy reactions--when the immune
system attacks now non-existent bacteria--can cause many
more problems for the patient.
A diagnosis of leprosy is a tragedy. In many places in the
world it is kept a secret for as long as possible and when it does
become known frequently the sufferer is removed to a leprosy
community, severing all family and community ties. Now,
efficient treatment for those lucky enough to get it in the early
stages can make extensive crippling a thing of the past, but for
many treatment comes too late and these older patients are
left with a lifetime of perhaps blindness and loss of limbs. Leprosy,
treated early and efficiently, is curable and this is our focus and aim.
Leprosy (which is also known as Hansen’s disease) is caused by
a bacterium which is similar to that which causes tuberculosis.
It is still a major health problem in developing countries,
although largely eradicated from Europe. In 2004 over
400,000 new cases were diagnosed of which about 70% were
from India.
On infection the leprosy bacillus attacks the nerves of
the face, hands and feet and removes the ability to use limbs.
The ability to feel pain is also affected, leading to burns and other
injuries which are prone to infection and eventually leads to the
loss of hands, feet and sight if care and treatment are not available.
The longer the disease is left undetected and untreated, the
more probable it is that the deformities associated with leprosy
will occur.
Multi-
a year. Unfortunately leprosy reactions-
A diagnosis of leprosy is a tragedy. In many places in the
world it is kept a secret for as long as possible and when it does
become known frequently the sufferer is removed to a leprosy
community, severing all family and community ties. Now,
efficient treatment for those lucky enough to get it in the early
stages can make extensive crippling a thing of the past, but for
many treatment comes too late and these older patients are
left with a lifetime of perhaps blindness and loss of limbs. Leprosy,
treated early and efficiently, is curable and this is our focus and aim.
HOW CHCT IS HELPING
Project One: The Bombay Leprosy Project, India
The charity has a long-term co-operation with
Dr R Ganapati, founder of the project in Bombay
(Mumbai) the home of Asias biggest slums. We have
financed a two-year prevention of disability programme
in the rural areas surrounding Bombay and in
Maharashtra State where the help and treatment
received by the leprosy disabled is minimal.
Patients are educated in the care needed for their
affected limbs and are receiving the necessary aids
to enable them to live normally in their villages.
The scheme supplies splints, grip-aids, special footwear,
dressing kits and plaster casts together with support
and advice.
(Mumbai) the home of Asias biggest slums. We have
financed a two-
Maharashtra State where the help and treatment
received by the leprosy disabled is minimal.
Patients are educated in the care needed for their
affected limbs and are receiving the necessary aids
to enable them to live normally in their villages.
The scheme supplies splints, grip-
and advice.
At present we are funding a referral centre in the
city incorporating Helen’s Unit, named after Helen Trott,
one of our earliest supporters, who tragically died of
cancer at an early age. At the centre the diagnosis
and treatment of leprosy is available to all-and is badly
needed now that other leprosy services have recently
one of our earliest supporters, who tragically died of
cancer at an early age. At the centre the diagnosis
and treatment of leprosy is available to all-
Dr R Ganapati
Dr Ganapati and Dr Pai working in
the rural villages outside Mumbai
the rural villages outside Mumbai
Project 2: Asociacion para el Desarullo de los Pueblos,
Managua, Nicaragua
This involves education, agricultural implements and seeds and it is hoped
that by raising the general nutritional standard, resistance to disease will be
Enhanced. Transport is always a problem to doctors, promoters and patients.
A bike has been supplied for the health promotor of St Francisco Libre who
previously covered his area of 12 square miles on foot. The jeep used by
doctors to visit these remote villages has also been repaired by the charity.
A lap-top computer for the keeping of detailed medical records in the villages
has been provided for the ADP.
that by raising the general nutritional standard, resistance to disease will be
Enhanced. Transport is always a problem to doctors, promoters and patients.
A bike has been supplied for the health promotor of St Francisco Libre who
previously covered his area of 12 square miles on foot. The jeep used by
doctors to visit these remote villages has also been repaired by the charity.
A lap-
Leprosy patients at rehabilitation school
in Mumbai
in Mumbai
The charity has been working in collaboration
With the Asociacion para el Desarullo de los
Pueblos (ADP) and Sanitorio Fontilles
(of Spain) in the mining villages of Nicaragua
where leprosy and leishmaniasis are a
problem especially among the young.
We have supplied antibiotics and
Medicines to the villages on several
occasions. These are generally unavailable
and unaffordable for the villagers.
They are dispensed according to need,
at the direction of the ADPfs doctors and by
the health promoters who are village leaders
with general health responsibilities.
A number of feeding schemes have been
financed by the charity, as the people live
in total poverty resulting in extremely bad
general health. Also funded is a nutritional
programme which focuses on encouraging
villagers to grow their own food.
With the Asociacion para el Desarullo de los
Pueblos (ADP) and Sanitorio Fontilles
(of Spain) in the mining villages of Nicaragua
where leprosy and leishmaniasis are a
problem especially among the young.
We have supplied antibiotics and
Medicines to the villages on several
occasions. These are generally unavailable
and unaffordable for the villagers.
They are dispensed according to need,
at the direction of the ADPfs doctors and by
the health promoters who are village leaders
with general health responsibilities.
A number of feeding schemes have been
financed by the charity, as the people live
in total poverty resulting in extremely bad
general health. Also funded is a nutritional
programme which focuses on encouraging
villagers to grow their own food.
Project Three: Ben-San, near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
