One of Project Concern's partner organizations operates a hostel and school for children with leprosy who have nowhere to live during treatment periods. In this densely populated country of 950 million people, controlling infectious disease is especially important. Leprosy remains a major public health problem worldwide. India accounts for 50 percent of the world's leprosy cases with more than 600,000 Indians infected.
Untreated leprosy can cause severe deformities of the face, nerves, eyes, hands, feet and brain.
Superstition and fear place a great social stigma on those with leprosy. Many people, including children, are ousted from mainstream society. The true tragedy is that if detected early, leprosy can be cured through regular treatment. These treatments also can prevent the spread of the disease. Project Concern works with local groups that screen, or treat, more than 1.2 million people for leprosy including one partner organizations operates a hostel and school for children with leprosy who have nowhere to live during treatment periods.