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Ameer Hamza, a patient from Turbat, Balochistan. -Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com
“I have stopped stepping out my house because every time I hear people say ‘look at you, what happened to your face, we cannot eat with you,’ I feel distraught and even more different than I actually am from the rest of the society,” said Shabana, a 30-year-old leper, hospitalised at Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) in Karachi.
Leprosy remains one of the most stigmatised diseases across the globe, and Pakistan is no exception to this rhetoric. However, so many myths that engulf leprosy and lepers are quite untrue and need to be eradicated from the society.
On World Leprosy Day, I decided to take a tour of one of the biggest leprosy hospitals in Pakistan and met people who are no different than you and me. Their smiles and gratitude could not hide the pain and afflictions brought onto them when they are considered a pariah by their own families.
“Educated people do not show the disgust that they feel when they meet us but other people openly judge us for a disease which is not caused by of our own doings.” Said Reyaz-ul-Hasan, a 65-year-old man, who formerly served as a librarian, in one of the most renowned schools of the city.
The most common myth prevalent in the uneducated section of our society is that people who are ‘disliked’ by God face his wrath in the form of leprosy. However, what many people do not know, and the fact which I will reiterate, is that many of our prophets cured lepers which proves that God does not ‘hate’ lepers.
It is wise to say that leprosy is contagious but what many people do not know is that over 75 per cent of the people are born with a natural immunity towards the disease and can never catch it. Another interesting point is that once the disease is detected and the patient is administered with the appropriate medicines, he/she is unable to transmit the disease after 48-72 hours. Hence, any contact with a patient who is undergoing treatment is harmless.
It is necessary to mention also that many organisations have gradually started creating awareness about the issue, however, the stigma and fear is still present.
Dr Mataher Zia, a renowned leprologist working for MALC, narrated shocking stories in which people refrain from sharing the news of their disease with even their own children because revealing this information is distressing.
“A young female patient was disowned by her in-laws and husband because she had leprosy and developed some blisters on her face. Another patient committed suicide because she was not accepted back into her own family,” said Dr Zia.
We are still living in oblivion and refuse to accept the stark realities of life. Leprosy is more curable than diabetes and other chronic ailments, then why are we not giving lepers their due share in life and society.
It was extremely inspiring for me to meet the head of the cooking department at MALC. Pir Ali, who hails from Batagaram in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is a rehabilitated leprosy patient who did not go back to his hometown and decided to stay back. For him serving the lepers is his own way of paying back to the society, one that ironically refuses to accept lepers.
Pir Ali, head of the cooking department at MALC. -Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com
Sultana from Peshawar was another success story who was diagnosed with leprosy at an early age. With no clear deformities she smiled and said, “I was an orphan and was brought to the hospital when I was young. I fell in love with a patient in the male ward and we got married.”
Sultana, from Pehsawar, whilst narrating the story of her life. -Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com
These courageous people, battling against the odds, were overwhelmingly ‘alive’ and happy to share their stories with me. The echoes of the head nurse shouting somewhere at the son of a patient to be more attentive and visit him more often, will sooner or later fade from my memory however this visit has left a mark on my soul. On the ride back from the hospital, I kept asking myself: “How can we be so cruel?”
Perhaps what struck me most was how none of the patients complained. Not a negative word was uttered about how they’ve been mistreated by their families and the society. However, on a departing note Reyaz-ul-Hasan said, “Everyone should be considerate towards other people. Even an animal can tell when his master is in pain and people who do not possess the capacity to be kind are carved out of stone.”
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
A lot of thinking …. ppl are neglected daily whilst we care for more unnecessary things..Thanks for this stories.
This is good. This is good that you brought t up.
It is great. I am thankful to Faiza. This is the best you could do. But I pose a question to the society, the NGOs, the government and the philanthropists. Is it enough to do 'hai, hai'n a particular day of the year and then forget them. I have myself written articles on a umber of topics/problems about a hundred articles that have been published in Dawn and I/the Dawn management received only three 'appreciation' letters. It is a cruel and selfish society that needs major surgery to recover from the depth of ignominy.
Dawn
It is great. I am thankful to Faiza. This is the best you could do. But I pose a question to the society, the NGOs, the government and the philanthropists. Is it enough to do 'hai, hai'n a particular day of the year and then forget them. I have myself written articles on a umber of topics/problems about a hundred articles that have been published in Dawn and I/the Dawn management received only three 'appreciation' letters. It is a cruel and selfish society that needs major surgery to reco9ver from the depth of ignominy.
Dawn
I thought leprosy was almost eradicated, shame on me.
like wise, we should be kind towards India. instead of words we should do deeds. india has given MFN status to Pakistan 20 years back, still we refuse to reciprocate the generosity, we need to be kind , otherwise we are like stone
Faiza i would like thank you for your attention towards the issue and you highlighted human suffering instead discussing western trends like burger writers do for other media outlets. I recent moved england and i found here people even dont call the word (disability) to any disable person and even people you mentioned are more respected and are given extra dognity and facilities. Our religion islamic practices can be seen in practice here. Plz cteate awareness as much as you can. This is sadqa. God bless you.
Keep up good work, education, knowledge is the only key for understanding, only way available for human, "HIS" desire to be human. Body is not the human but the spirit housing in it. No one is more for looking perfect in soul, desire but perfection is in spirit, the truth absolute. Treat them what they are, human "HIS" desire like any one else, as it is commanded by "HIM", ALLAH THE TRUTH ABSOLUTE "HIMSELF".
Faiza, keep it up. People remember those who do good to others
Thank you for dispelling the myths surrounding leprosy. May Allah give you ajar for your kindness towards these patients. Ameen.
Good Job! But we should be careful about the fact that this problem is not unique to Pakistan. Its a global problem; usually, the dearest thing for a person is his own life and its not surprising why people stigmatize lepers. I would say its more 'lack of knowledge' than cruelty which causes such an attitude.
Great peice.. thanx for this informative article
Excellent article. very humane very touching.
keep up the great work Faiza
Great work Faiza… Creating awareness about the issues where we can actually make a difference just by our attitudes, should be appreciated. Hope we start caring about each other more & create a better society out of this current mess.
Thanks Faiza for creating the awareness, uncovering the myths and fear associated with Leprosy. May it enable more of us to treat the patients humanely which has been stigmatized for all along.
Exceptional article … You've left me speechless !!! Keep up the good work !!!
Another breath of fresh air at a time when the whole country has been taken hostage by 'memogate'
Keep it up Faiza
A good piece dear. Keep it up. Being a journalist myself, I truly believe, this is real and genuine journalism. However, unfortunately, we spent most our time and energies on reporting mere conspiracy theories, which are plenty in the country.
thank you Faiza, It is also kind of awareness like before read this information i was not aware of leprosy. Now it is clear to me. /we must takec are off these patient as a part of society, family and loveones.
Great that you uncovered the tragedies and the miserable social treatment that lepers get in our country.
Thanks for making me and other aware of many unknown facts.
Wonderful article – God bless you!
Really a smart work from you for the society , I appreciate you an your work.A large number of people have no even idea about the life Of an leprostic patient , how spend his days of life is never a cozy thoughts but an alarming background .
Thanks for writer