American Leprosy Missions

American Leprosy Missions (ALM) has been caring for people affected by leprosy, Buruli ulcer and related conditions in Africa for more than 50 years, providing both physical and spiritual nourishment.

Leprosy is caused by a bacterial infection. It affects the skin and nerves, and can also cause problems in the eyes and nose. Untreated, it can lead to severe problems, such as blindness and facial disfiguration. Leprosy can be cured with medication, however, and there is no need for a person with leprosy to be isolated.

Unfortunately, many age-old superstitions about leprosy persist and those who have the disease are often cast aside by society, pushed into a life of poverty and disability. Such beliefs make our work with leprosy in Africa complex and challenging.

American Leprosy Missions supports local programs in several countries, providing treatment for the disease as well as programs such as disability-prevention training, educational scholarships, nutritional support, micro-credit loans, job training, health education, stigma reduction, surgical training, and much more. For example, we

• Support the Medhen Social Center in Ethiopia, which seeks to break the cycle of poverty and stigma by helping children receive a quality education. In 2007, the program enrolled 1,388 children.
• Work in difficult-to-reach areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our partners provide treatment for the disease, disability-prevention help, health education, educational assistance, and more.
• Helped rebuild health care facilities destroyed by civil war in Angola.