Today is World Leprosy Day, a day of remembrance and awareness that I suspect will go largely unnoticed by so many throughout the world. 

Many of our volunteers - as well as friends and family - tell us that they are surprised to find out that leprosy still exists today. Typically, the first questions we find ourselves answering are:

• Is leprosy treatable?
• How contagious is it?

When people learn that leprosy actually curable and incredibly difficult to spread/contract, more questions emerge. Why does it still exist? Why are people shunned and cast out of society and into colonies? Did you know the term "Leper" is actually extremely offensive?

Much of the world does not know that hundreds of thousands are diagnosed and treated for leprosy every year. Many more are left untreated, hiding in fear and shame because of the stigma and discrimination that oppresses the leprosy-affected and their families. So many in the world don't know there's a cure. Or that even once a patient has been cured, physical deformities, amputations, and the care of painful wounds continue to be a part of daily life.

Rising Star Outreach exists to help those affected by leprosy to become healthy, educated, and self-sufficient within their communities. By far, one of our biggest challenges is the stigma attached to this disease. One of our main goals is to educate the public and gain global support to overcome the discrimination that forces so many generations to live in such pain.

So what can you do to help eliminate this ancient disease and the stigmatization that comes with it?

One of the most effective ways to educate your friends about the leprosy affected is through social media. Post your thoughts, images, or a video sharing your feelings about the fight against leprosy and social injustice. Share this post, follow our accounts, and make your voice heard.

Use our hashtags to spread the word:

#risingstaroutreach

#leprosy

#worldleprosyday

#beatleprosy

#stopthestigma

#wld2017

#erasethemark

We are proud to say that 100% of your donations go to our programs. We don't give handouts. We create opportunities for those in the colonies to become self-sufficient. We offer micro-loans to create jobs, perpetual education grants to educate a child, and wound care training and supplies for patients.

Visit our website to Sponsor A Child, donate to the Gift Guide, or get ideas for a fundraiser.

Travel to India on an expedition to witness first-hand how your contributions make a difference. Interact with the students attending the Rising Star Outreach of India school, provide individualized service and compassionate care for leprosy-affected people in the colonies, and experience the culture of the country. 

Many report that these sessions help them to feel enriched physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When you return, invite your friends over to share your experiences in India.

Education is stigma's greatest opponent. Simply teaching your friends and family (and encouraging them to do the same) about the history and true cause of leprosy is a start. Let your friends know that the term "Leper" is as offensive as the "n" word in America and introduce them to more appropriate terms.

"Person affected by leprosy" or "leprosy-affected" are both terms that appropriately focus on the humanity of the individual and are not inferring that they are their disease.

Leprosy is an infection that is the result of long-term exposure to the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. 

Depending on the length of time a patient has gone untreated, the following symptoms may develop:

• White or pale patches on the skin
• Loss of sensation in the affected areas
• Nodules or lumps in the skin located on the face and/or ears
• Ulcers located on the soles of the feet
• Loss of fingers or toes
• Nasal depression
• Paralysis or severe weakness in the muscles of the foot (Foot-drop)
• Claw fingers and toes 
• Loss of eyelashes 
• Inability to blink

The cause of leprosy was discovered in 1873 by a Norwegian scientist named G.H Armauer Hansen. Until that time, most experts on the subject considered leprosy to be a hereditary disease. However, Hansen suspected its cause to be a specific, contagious agent and after prolonged studies, he discovered a foreign bacterium not found in uninfected skin cells. These bacterium were found to be the cause of leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease.

Yes. After Hansen's discovery, it took doctors and scientists over 70 years to develop a cure for leprosy.

Leprosy is curable with a treatment known as multi-drug therapy (MDT). Treatment can last from six to twelve months, although a patient is considered non-contagious after just 1 to 3 months of treatment. These treatments are provided free of charge to all endemic countries by the World Health Organization.

Not likely. A genetic component of the disease means that 95% of the general population is naturally immune to leprosy. Those 5% who are susceptible must be in continuous and constant contact with a leprosy patient to contract the disease.