Nepal Leprosy Trust

NLT was founded in Nepal 1972 in response to the needs of people affected by leprosy in Nepal. Its early work consisted of establishing rehabilitation, income generation and financial assistance projects for people affected by leprosy, and for disadvantaged women and children, in the Kathmandu Valley. In 1990, NLT Nepal was registered as an NGO in Nepal and, in 1996, it opened Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre (LLSC), in south-east Nepal. LLSC is a Centre of expertise in leprosy, not strictly a hospital, and acts as a base for reaching out into the surrounding communities. It is used for the training of health workers, to support rural health posts, to teach self-care to leprosy-affected people and to develop POID activities in the community. It supports NLT?s wide range or community-based empowerment and rehabilitation activities in the rural village communities in the four districts of South Janakpur Zone. The underlying programme methodology for NLT?s activities is Stigma Elimination... more

NLT was founded in Nepal 1972 in response to the needs of people affected by leprosy in Nepal. Its early work consisted of establishing rehabilitation, income generation and financial assistance projects for people affected by leprosy, and for disadvantaged women and children, in the Kathmandu Valley. In 1990, NLT Nepal was registered as an NGO in Nepal and, in 1996, it opened Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre (LLSC), in south-east Nepal. LLSC is a Centre of expertise in leprosy, not strictly a hospital, and acts as a base for reaching out into the surrounding communities. It is used for the training of health workers, to support rural health posts, to teach self-care to leprosy-affected people and to develop POID activities in the community. It supports NLT?s wide range or community-based empowerment and rehabilitation activities in the rural village communities in the four districts of South Janakpur Zone. The underlying programme methodology for NLT?s activities is Stigma Elimination within communities affected by leprosy and Prevention of Impairment and Disability (POID). It is widely acknowledged that if leprosy carried no stigma in society, then it would not uniquely affect communities, families and individuals as it does. Therefore tackling stigma in society is the most effective approach to tackling the disease at all levels, in particular for communities with leprosy-affected families. POID activities minimise secondary effects of leprosy, such as ulceration, and help those affected to continue in work and provide a living for their families, enhancing dignity. POID also contributes to reducing stigmatisation, promoting full participation in communities. NLT?s approach, although it involves improving the lifestyle of people and families affected by leprosy, aims to help them contribute productively to their society through empowerment, turning the deficit of leprosy in the community into an asset. Most of NLT?s clients are the rural poor, as a result of poor living conditions, poor nutrition, low standards of education, etc.