A disease that mainly affects the skin, eyes, nose and peripheral nerves including light-coloured or red skin patches with reduced sensation, numbness and weakness in hands and feet.
It is caused by infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and in all cases if you lose sensation it will not come back.
However, it can be cured through six – 12 months of three antibiotics.
It is a disease of poverty and is still prevalent in third world countries.
Amar Timalsina, a previous sufferer, visited St Cuthbert’s Church last week to speak of his journey and how Leprosy Mission has assisted.
Amar was born in a very remote village in Nepal.
He was 10-years-old when symptoms began to arise especially around his face and his left foot which he noticed was numb.
At this age Amar also made the startling discovery he could push a needle all the way into his foot with no pain and would have wagers with school friends.
His family was quite poor, so his parents took him to traditional shamans to cure the mystery condition which did not work so Amar and his father had to travel to Kathmandu, the closest city to seek full medical help.
Amar was seen at around 10 hospitals, with none of those 10 able to diagnose his condition.
In 1989 at the age of 12 Amar was finally diagnosed and began to take medication to eradicate the disease.
He was then also admitted into hospital for three months.
“When I came home everyone knew I had suffered from Leprosy and it was seen as a sin of a previous life,” Amar said.
“My friends and family didn’t want to come close to me. There was discrimination and a stigma around me and the disease. I was isolated from the village and the community.”
Amar experienced indescribable suffering in his life physically, mentally and spiritually.
“I was admitted to hospital more than 40 times and had also tried to commit suicide,” Amar said.
“It was too hard on my parents when our village was so far from the hospital, so I stayed in an orphanage in Kathmandu.
“After six years when I was nearly 20, I recovered.
“At the same age I was married in an arranged marriage but after three months my wife found out about my previous disease and divorced me.
“At 22 I married again but a lady of my choosing, she knew of my condition and loved me.
“I found myself again and now I have two children.
“I represent the voice of people with leprosy.”
In 2015 at Anandaban Amar wanted to know more about Jesus. His pastor reached out and invited him to church.
As a result, Amar accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour and was baptised.
“I now live more for others than myself and life has been different,” Amar said.
“Love and compassion can heal our hearts.
“I never thought someone who had been isolated could do what I’ve done.”
Amar is now a school principal in Kathmandu and is also president of IDEA Nepal, an organisation that advocates for people affected by leprosy.
He is also on the advisory panel of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations and earlier this year spoke at the UN.
A man once rejected by his community is now highly respected in Nepal and internationally and rightfully so after the life experiences he has endured.
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