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International Federation of Anti Leprosy Associations

British Leprosy Relief Assoication

LEPRA Society is a health and development organization working to restore health, hope and dignity to people affected by leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS and other allied diseases and conditions caused by them

LEPRA Society is a non-governmental organization without religious and political affiliations. LEPRA Society’s headquarters is based at Secunderabad with its regional offices in Secunderabad and Bhubaneshwar. The Society, through LEPRA, is a member of the International Federation of Leprosy Associations (ILEP), a consortium of 16 organisations working in 30 countries across the world. LEPRA Society co-ordinates with the State Leprosy Programmes in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

History

The British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA now LEPRA) started leprosy work in India in 1924. After India achieved Independence in 1947, the leprosy work was delegated to Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh (HKNS) and the support from LEPRA continued. It was in 1989, the Indian branch of LEPRA named LEPRA Society was formed and was registered under the Andhra Pradesh Society’ Act.

Objective

The primary objective of LEPRA is to combat leprosy. Extending health care activities into other allied diseases like Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Malaria and prevention of Blindness programmes are LEPRA’s initiatives towards ensuring better health for the needy people.

Projects

LEPRA Society works for the upliftment of the oppressed and disadvantaged people in rural and inaccessible areas. The Society works in 4 States (Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh). While 10 direct projects are the main means of providing service delivery, the Society supports 7 NGOs, 4 District Technical Support Teams, maintains 2 hospitals in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh and a Research Centre in Hyderabad. All the above centres work in pursuing the Society’s mission objectives.

Core activities

LEPRA Society provide quality services in Leprosy, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Eye Care and Malaria, at the same time create awareness in the community to educate people about the diseases and the consequences of it.

Leprosy

Following LEPRA’s strategy, the interventions for supporting leprosy affected persons and persons with disabilities were based on the principles of development and organised in partnership with the beneficiaries. Leprosy activities focused on capacity building as well as motivating government health care staff to ensure early detection and treatment. Prevention of disabilities services, socio-economic rehabilitation and IEC are the other activities carried out in the Projects.