As of 2016, 2-3 million
people in the world are living with leprosy. 19,000 are children. Did you know
there are as many as 50 children diagnosed with leprosy every single day? Two-thirds
of the world’s leprosy is diagnosed in India
Image found here.
Leprosy is mostly spread in
crowded spaces, where people have limited resources and little access to health
care. The disease affects the nerve endings and the infected part of the body
no longer feels pain. Fingers and toes, hands are feet are lost because people
with leprosy injury themselves repeatedly, almost nudging away body parts
because they cannot feel pain in that area. Deep cuts, burns and infections may
go unnoticed until too much damage has been done. Eyelids, the end of the nose
and other facial features are affected.
Image found here.
What if a mother gets leprosy? Her
husband may leave and she will be homeless with little to no food for her
children. Because of her body deformities, no one will hire her for work. She
and her children are discriminated against and shunned from society, but leprosy
can be cured with antibiotic treatment. Many of those affected do not know
this.
The World Health Organization provides free antibiotics to those with
leprosy, but because of the stigma, many do not seek treatment as early as they
should. Rising Star Outreach is breaking down so many social, cultural and
religious barriers by providing food, healthcare and education to families and children
living in the leprosy colonies. Rising Star integrates children from the
communities with children from the leprosy colonies, creating bonds and
friendships where they may not otherwise coincide. Leprosy is hard to catch and
most people have a strong enough immunity to fight of the disease is they are
exposed to it. You cannot contract leprosy through casual contact such as
shaking hands or sitting next to someone. For $1.00 a day, you can help sponsor
a child.
Please purchase our coloring book My 100 Daughters of India and 50% of
the proceeds will go to Rising Star Outreach. Available on Amazon.
Intermittent fasting fact: During a 16-hour fast, human
growth hormone rises, helping to slow aging. Intermittent fasting may help you live longer because waste material is removed from the cells, a process
called autophagy.
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