Nepal is one of the poorest countries in Asia. It is also vulnerable to climate change, as floods and wildfires become more frequent and severe. Lying on a fault line, Nepal is also prone to earthquakes.

In late September 2024, deadly monsoon rains hit the Kathmandu valley. The district surrounding Anandaban hospital sadly bore the brunt of the downpours. The floods also caused catastrophic landslides at Anandaban. You can read more here. The team shared that the impact was worse than the devastating 2015 earthquake.

2,522 people were diagnosed with leprosy in 2023, mainly in the south of the country. 181 of these new cases were children.

Working with The Leprosy Mission Nepal, your support funds a range of projects across the country.

Healthcare

Nepal has one doctor for every 1,429 people, so your support here is vital. Anandaban Hospital, near Kathmandu, opened in 1957. It serves around 8,000 people affected by leprosy, plus general patients, every year. It provides wound care, reconstructive surgery, and treatment for leprosy reaction. The medical team also run local clinics for outpatients.

Your support recently funded a new trauma and emergency centre at Anandaban. It houses an emergency room, operating theatre, and maternity ward.

The stigma and discrimination attached to leprosy means many people affected experience depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The team at Anandaban offer counselling to patients and their families to help them improve their mental health.

Curing leprosy

Many people affected by leprosy across Nepal are “hidden” within their communities. Left untreated, leprosy causes permanent but preventable disability. Early diagnosis is vital.

We’re training government health workers and female community health volunteers to detect leprosy and refer people for treatment. They also screen family members and close contacts to stop the disease spreading within communities.

In 2023, 467 people were diagnosed with leprosy through our case finding work. 144 people were also diagnosed at Anandaban Hospital.

Research

Anandaban Hospital is home to world-class leprosy research. Projects include developing a diagnostic test that will make identifying leprosy cases quicker and easier. Work will soon begin on constructing a brand new, state-of-the art research centre.

The team at Anandaban are partnering with research institutions across the world, including Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick; and the National Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) Program in the US.