Leprosy: A Hidden Humanitarian Crisis
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, remains a public health concern in various parts of the world. Despite being curable and not highly contagious, the disease continues to affect thousands annually, and the stigma associated with it persists, leading to the existence of leprosy colonies in some regions.
Here’s some quick facts about this hidden humanitarian crisis:
A joyful resident in India of a leper colony, supported by Butterfly Effect Global.
Global Leprosy Statistics
New Cases Annually: Approximately 200,000 to 250,000 new cases of leprosy are reported worldwide each year.
Countries with Highest Incidence: India, Brazil, and Indonesia report the highest number of new cases annually.
Child Cases: In 2018, 16,000 new cases were detected among children, highlighting ongoing transmission.
Stigma and Discrimination
Despite medical advancements, stigma surrounding leprosy remains a significant barrier:
Legal Discrimination: In parts of South Asia, outdated laws continue to discriminate against those affected by leprosy, including restrictions on employment and marriage.
Social Exclusion: Individuals cured of leprosy often face social ostracism, leading them to reside in colonies or isolated communities.
Modern Treatment and Misconceptions
Treatment: Leprosy is curable with a multi-drug therapy regimen, typically lasting 6 to 12 months. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent disability.
Contagion: The disease is not highly contagious; approximately 95% of the population has natural immunity. It requires prolonged close contact to spread.
Leprosy Colonies Today
While many countries have integrated leprosy treatment into general healthcare services, some leprosy colonies still exist, primarily due to historical segregation and ongoing stigma:
India: Home to numerous leprosy colonies, where individuals affected by the disease often reside due to societal discrimination and lack of support.
Japan: Facilities like the Amami Wakoen Sanatorium continue to house former patients, many of whom are elderly and have lived there for decades.
United States: The Kalaupapa settlement in Hawaii, once a leprosy colony, is now a National Historical Park. While no longer active, it serves as a reminder of past practices.
Efforts to eliminate leprosy and bring healing to those effected must be addressed through raising awareness by educating the public to dispel myths and reduce stigma, fighting for policy reforms to repeal discriminatory laws against lepers, and supporting leper communities with rehabilitation and support services.
Lori McMacken, Butterfly Effect Global’s Founder, spending time with residents within an impoverished leper colony in Odisha, India.
Leprosy in India
India bears the highest burden of leprosy in the world, accounting for more than 50% of all new cases globally each year. India officially declared leprosy eliminated as a public health problem in 2005 (meaning fewer than 1 case per 10,000 people), but transmission continues in rural and impoverished regions. While the disease is curable and treatment is free, the deep-rooted stigma and centuries-old discrimination have led to the existence of over 750 leprosy colonies across the country.
Living conditions in leprosy colonies, are often extremely harsh. They lack basic necessities like beds, food supplies, clean water, pest control, sanitation, healthcare, and more. In the leprosy colonies we serve, our brothers and sisters sleep on the cold, damp ground—where rats bite, snakes slither, and groundwater soaks through their thin blankets. Many have lost feeling in their limbs due to leprosy. They cannot even feel when they are being bitten, injured, or infected.
Can you imagine sleeping like that—damp, cold, in fear—night after night?
With compromised immune systems, open wounds, and no protection, they are vulnerable, yet they endure with grace and gratitude. Still, no human being should suffer this way.
How We Bring Solutions
At Butterfly Effect, we directly support people living within colonies in Odisha, India, with basic needs including mosquito nets, food rations, clean beds & bedding, medical care, and more. We are aiding in restoring their health and dignity for generations to come.
Currently we have set an urgent goal: to provide 90 safe, clean beds—so every person in our supported leprosy colonies can sleep off the ground with dignity, protection, and comfort.
One bed can change a life.
$150 provides one durable bed, with a clean mattress, pillow, and cover sheets. Whether you can donate a full bed or a portion, every gift brings hope, healing, and humanity back to those suffering unnecessarily with leprosy every day.
