KIT Blog

Pownermmal is a mother of three boys and one girl in India. Pownermmal discovered she had ulcers on her hips and hands.

Pownermmal went to her grandfather who works at The Leprosy Mission Hospital, he told her that she had leprosy. Due to the negative conception of leprosy she could not tell anyone about her illness.

Multi Drug Therapy treatment is a cure that takes up to a year to cure leprosy, many people in the village were taking this drug, so Pownermmal though it would be beneficial to also take them.

Fortunately, before treatment she was still able to continue her job and support her family. Although Pownermmal’s main priority was to look after her children, so she didn’t have time to worry about what her neighbours thought of her.  She however did not want them to know because this may hinder the way her family and children are perceived. For Pownermmal the worst part was the severity of her ulcers.

Pownermmal says “My leprosy would have become far worse if it were not for the help of The Leprosy Mission. So many people with leprosy have deformities, such as clawed hands. I was fortunate because my case was detected early.”

Pownermmal wants to thank The Leprosy Mission as they have helped her avoid complications and potential deformities. Without the support of The Leprosy Mission Pownermmal’s life could be very different.

Written by Henry, Jack, Elliot and Louis. Students from Melbourne Grammar School.