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International Federation of Anti Leprosy Associations

Fontilles - India

Fontilles – India

Fontilles from Spain has been working for Leprosy since 1902. In the early days in Spain, but today in the countries most affected by the disease. In 1902 The Jesuit Father Carlos Ferris and the lawyer Don Joaquin Ballester joined together in a common dream to care for those with leprosy and to help those who suffered alone without any confort or help, isolated by a fearful society. After 7 years of struggle and endeavour the Sanatorium of Saint Francisco de Borja opened its doors to take those with leprosy from all over spain.

Patients were attended, as nowadays, by volunteers, Sisters “Franciscanas de la Inmaculada”, Jesuits of the “Compania de Jesus” and doctors.

In 1969, Fontilles joined ILEP, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations. Fontilles is the only Spanish member of the Association.

In 1989 Fontilles began its work abroad. The first dispensaries were set up and help given in zones chronically affected in India.

Fontilles is now working with projects in China, India, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, Nepal, Mexico, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola and Rwanda.

The objective, as was the founders’, is to overcome leprosy and its consequences, but also to fight against other neglected diseases as Buruli Ulcer, Leishmaniasis, Chagas Disease, etc.

Fontilles conducts international training programmes for doctors and para medical staff annually almost from the initial periods of its operation and has to its credit several internally recognized publications.

Fontilles in India

In the year 2006, Fontilles contined to support the work against leprosy in some hospitals in Gujarat. In this State, Fontilles collaborates with the centers of Surat, Bhavnagar and Junagadh. In Karnataka State, Fontilles collaborates with Franciscan Sisters in Harapannahalli, supporting a CBR project not only for leprosy patients but with disabled people too. In Pondicherry Fontilles collaborates with CERTH in the rehabilitation of former leprosy patients, through their India representative.

Fontilles also takes care of children stigmatized by the disease through educative programs in Gujarat and Karnataka, and through collaboration with IDEA in the scholarship program in Tamil Nadu State. The agency is also collaborating with LEPRA in Sanawad with the Saint Joseph Leprosy centre and in Orissa with the JUNLEP project.

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