Lepers appeal to government

Tema, Jan 27, GNA - The Lepers Aid Committee has appealed to the government to fulfil its promise to provide a daily subsidy of 60Gp to lepers in the country.

Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, Chairman of the Committee, said the lepers had not received their subsidies since December 2006 after the government announced increases in their subsidy from 12Gp to 60Gp. Father Campbell who is also the Parish Priest of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Tema, made the appeal on Sunday at a ceremony marking the World Leprosy Day.

He said the institutions could not fully provide medication and food for the over 12,000 inmates due to lack of funds. "The government provided the money for a short time but we have not received any funds from them since December 2006," Father Campbell said. Appealing to relatives of cured lepers not to discriminate against them; Father Campbell noted that even though the lepers have lost their fingers they were equally important to society.

He called on relatives of cured lepers to discard the notion that they would be affected by the disease when they care for them. Father Campbell indicated that about 10,000 cured lepers preferred staying at the leprosarium to going home to their families due to the discrimination and neglect they received from their relatives. "I'm appealing to relatives not to wait till the lepers die before they give them a befitting burial, this is the time to show them the love and care they need" Father Campbell said. Madam Gladys Adobea, Senior Prefect of the Leprosarium, thanked corporate bodies for caring for them and reiterated the call on the government to fulfil its promise to lepers in the country. Madam Adobea said as much as they would love to go back home, their relatives discriminated against them. She said people refused to buy soaps and mats made by cured lepers, adding that this was a clear indication that they were unwanted in society.

The lepers and inmates of the Teshie Orphanage had lunch with members of the Committee and other dignitaries.