Submitted by Val Hiscock on
Greetings from Lepra!
Since sending my email in July advising of Lepra's financial challenges, I am pleased to advise that the response we have received to our urgent appeal has been amazing. We have now received donations and pledges totalling £45,650.65. The matched funding period, which will apply to donations totalling £50,000, has been extended and we are confident of achieving this target very soon.
The additional funds raised by the appeal will help us re-establish services that unfortunately had to be reduced earlier in the year. Our teams in India and Bangladesh are urgently focusing their efforts to ensure that vital services continue to be provided to people affected by leprosy and lymphatic filariasis. These include active case finding to detect leprosy, assistance to those diagnosed to ensure they urgently start a course of multi-drug therapy (MDT) medication, providing care and support and promoting inclusion and wellbeing.
An example of the support we consider essential is highlighted in the latest issue of Lepra News. Dr Vishal Panday, who is a consultant physiotherapist at Lepra Society's Indira Gandhi Hospital Referral Centre, describes the importance of physiotherapy and community self-care practice in restoring people's mobility, dignity and hope. Link to Lepra News - Autumn 2026: https://issuu.com/lepra/docs/lepra_news_autumn_2026
Thank you again for your continued interest in our work and the support we receive. We look forward to providing further updates over the next 12 months.