Today is World Leprosy Day. It was Raoul Follereau who created this special day in 1954 and people in more than 140 countries remember the thousands who suffer from this devastating disease. The beneficial action of this originator and promoter of this World Day continues locally through the Order of Charity which has been trying to keep alive care for those afflicted by Hansen’s disease, sensitising public opinion, and stimulating their involvement by supporting programmes and the gathering of financial resources.

Leprosy continues to infect hundreds of thousands of people annually worldwide. According to the most recent data published by the World Health Organization, in 2009 more than 210,000 new cases were recorded. This number does not include the many presumed to be ill but who are not counted in any census and are deprived of medical care, generally because of extreme poverty. Most people don’t know the devastating effects that this disease can have on people’s bodies if they are not treated, and on families and on society in general.

To stimulate the individual and collective duty to engage in active fraternal solidarity, the Order of Charity (Malta) has just published a book about the unforgettable story of courage, sacrifice and devotion shown by Father Damien of Molokai who was declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. Il-Patri Lebbruż can be bought for €5 from the Catholic Institute, Floriana, or it can be sent by post if you phone 2138 1233. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to the Order of Charity (Malta), which for many years has been helping financially to reduce and even cure leprosy in Third World countries.

Tony C. Cutajar