Peter Waddup, CEO - The Leprosy Mission Great Britain

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It is hard to believe that Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. 2024 has been a whirlwind of busyness in our planned work to defeat leprosy and all its consequences. And then there's the fallout to the curveballs coming our way. The longer I spend on planet Earth, the more I learn to expect the unexpected!

Sadly in 2024 the curveballs have largely come under the umbrella of climate change. September saw the worst flooding in 50 years to hit the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. This caused major devastation to the Anandaban Hospital site, our flagship hospital. 2024 also brought flooding to the communities in which we work in Bangladesh, Myanmar and just this week in Sri Lanka. My colleagues have been working to help repair destroyed homes and livelihoods.

Looking back in history, it is heartening to learn that caring for people affected by leprosy is not a new thing. Although on the sidelines of society, there have always been those showing compassion. It is also important to remember that leprosy hasn't always been a disease confined to today's low and middle-income countries...

Next Friday (6 December) is our annual Carol service at St Giles-in-the-Fields Church. If you find yourself in London and can take a lunch break at 12.50pm then we would so love to welcome you. It really is such a special service. Decorated for Christmas, the church always looks beautiful. There's special music from the Tredici Choir and refreshments served afterwards.

But what most people attending won't be aware of is why the annual Carol service takes place at St Giles. This is fascinating! It dates back to a time when leprosy was a huge problem in the City of London. Those with leprosy were pushed out of the city to a hospice on the site of St Giles-in-the-Fields. It is hard to believe that this most bustling part of central London near to Centre Point was once 'in the fields'. But back in the Middle Ages St Giles was literally 'in the fields' between the City of London and Westminster.

Similarly, St James’s Palace is built on the site of a leprosy hospital. At the time it was still part of the farmland and countryside outside of London. In fact, Green Park was once a swampy burial ground for its leprosy patients.

Leprosy thrived in medieval cities like London where there were no sewage systems or piped water supply. In fact the last indigenous leprosy case in England was recorded in 1798. This followed a time of major improvements to public health in London.

It is encouraging to learn that the improvements made such a difference to the people of London. Overcrowding, poor sanitation and malnutrition lead to weakened immune systems. They create an ideal breeding ground for leprosy. In the UK today leprosy is largely a forgotten disease but only due to an overhaul in living conditions.

For me this cements that we are only as fortunate as our circumstances dictate. It reinforces our need to advocate and work to improve living conditions in marginalised communities in Asia and Africa. It is only then that leprosy can finally be consigned to the history books globally.

All are welcome so if you can make it to St Giles-in-the-Fields- at 12.50pm on Friday, please let us know for seating purposes. Please register here, email hello@lm.org.uk, or ring 01733 370505