LEPRA
Encyclopedia
LEPRA Health in Action is a health and medical development charity
fighting diseases of poverty and working towards a world without leprosy
(Hansen's disease). Diseases of poverty include: leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS.
The organisation was founded in 1924 by Sir Leonard Rogers
in an attempt to cure all cases of leprosy within the (then) British Empire
. In the 1930s it became associated with Toc H
and its founder, the Reverend 'Tubby' Clayton, and volunteers were recruited to go to Africa
and India
, which had some of the highest incidences of the disease.
LEPRA Health in Action currently works in some of the most deprived areas around the world. The organisation runs a broad range of projects across nine countries to fight diseases of poverty.
In Latin America LEPRA is working in Guatemala, Colombia and Brazil. In Asia it runs a large number of projects in India (LEPRA India), alongside work in Bangladesh. In Africa it is active in Malawi and Mozambique. LEPRA Health in Action also supports the work of Association Française Raoul Follereau fighting leprosy in Madagascar.
Local Charity Committees:
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
fighting diseases of poverty and working towards a world without leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
(Hansen's disease). Diseases of poverty include: leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS.
The organisation was founded in 1924 by Sir Leonard Rogers
Leonard Rogers
Sir Leonard Rogers FRS was a founder member of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and its President from 1933 to 1935....
in an attempt to cure all cases of leprosy within the (then) British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. In the 1930s it became associated with Toc H
Toc H
Toc H is an international Christian movement. The name is an abbreviation for Talbot House, 'Toc' signifying the letter T in the signals spelling alphabet used by the British Army in World War I. A soldiers' rest and recreation centre named Talbot House was founded in December 1915 at Poperinghe,...
and its founder, the Reverend 'Tubby' Clayton, and volunteers were recruited to go to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which had some of the highest incidences of the disease.
LEPRA Health in Action currently works in some of the most deprived areas around the world. The organisation runs a broad range of projects across nine countries to fight diseases of poverty.
In Latin America LEPRA is working in Guatemala, Colombia and Brazil. In Asia it runs a large number of projects in India (LEPRA India), alongside work in Bangladesh. In Africa it is active in Malawi and Mozambique. LEPRA Health in Action also supports the work of Association Française Raoul Follereau fighting leprosy in Madagascar.
Local Charity Committees:
- Chelsea & Kensington LEPRA Committee