GANDHI KUSTHA (LEPROSY) NIVARAN PRATISHTHAN

The Bihar government failed to support the centre but fortunately in 1993 the medical side of its leprosy work was sponsored by the British charity LEPRA. The number of patients treated and cured since 1993 is over 7000. The prevalence rate then was 15 per thousand persons. Today it is 2 per thousand, though even this means 130 new cases a month -children and adults. Since 1994 more than 300 deformities have been cured and more than 200 patients have been prevented from worsening deformities. In April 1997 GKNP opened a clinic to treat TB - a killer disease. It is estimated that 12 to 14 million Indians have TB. Since this April 180 patients have been registered but there are approximately 4000 patients in GKNP's ara of work which covers one million people. GKNP, a non-government organisation and a registered charity, provides the WHO recommended DOTS method of treatment free of charge. A retired doctor and the existing staff provide their services on a voluntary basis. The drugs are expensive. It costs Rs 1300 for the six to eight months treatment for one patient. GKNP has no external source of funding for this work. GKNP has three fish ponds, a few pigs and small piece of land where vegetables are grown. These seasonal activities cannot pay all the drugs bill. As we cannot refuse patients we nust ask for donations from those with better health and more resources than these underpriviliged rural Biharis. We appeal to YOU to help GKNP with this life saving work. Why not get together with your friends and family and send enough money to save a life! Shri Lakshmi Singh Gandhi Kustha Nivaran Pratishthan Gandhi gram BHABUA - 821 101 INDIA Fax & Tel : +91-6189-33423 Send for our news letter and learn more about our work from our above mentioned address or at the e-mail provided below. GKNP is registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. We have been supported for this entry by Angel Fire, for which we are grateful. WWW.ANGELFIRE.COM/OR/LEPROSY/