KIT Blog

By Dr. Greg Clarke
CEO, Leprosy Mission Australia

Leprosy has been around for 4,000 years. If, like me, you originally heard about leprosy when you read the Gospel stories of Jesus’ healings, you probably thought of it as an ancient disease. Something from ‘the olden days’, something in the history books. How wrong I was!

Leprosy continued to haunt the poorest people of the world throughout those millennia, with little hope for relief, incredible suffering and rejection being the usual situation for those unfortunate enough to contract it. People were cast out of their families and villages; islands were established as colonies for leprosy sufferers; there was little hope, little love, little care.

But the founders of the Leprosy Mission refused to accept this. Wellesley and Alice Bailey, the Pim sisters and others were moved by compassion, driven by following in the footsteps of Christ, and they committed to make a difference. 150 years later, their vision and determination has contributed to thrilling and energising progress towards the elimination of leprosy.

As we mark this important milestone, we are grateful for the medical research, the donations, the dedicated servants, and the courage of sufferers. We are getting closer and closer to finishing the task of removing this scourge from the world. We pray for God’s blessing and grace as the goals of zero transmission, new disability and discrimination come closer into view.

Technology is a gift to us, as we work globally on better ways to detect disease early, to treat disabilities with surgery and prosthetics, and explore preventative medications such as vaccines. Being a fan of the band U2, I have often thought about one of their lyrics since I took on the role of CEO of Leprosy Mission Australia: “In science and in medicine, I was a stranger you took me in” (from their song ‘Miracle Drug’). Our scientific and medical efforts are an outworking of the command of Jesus to treat the outsider as if he or she were Jesus himself.

We are holding several 150^th celebration events around the country this year, as well as running some media campaigns and special product releases. We’d love you to get involved, so please keep your eye on our communications. With every blessing and thanks for being an essential and beloved part of the Leprosy Mission’s work.

Give thanks for all that has been achieved over the 150 years of The Leprosy Mission. Pray that all the advances in technology and science will continue to bring us closer to our goal of making leprosy a thing of the past.

Pray the celebration events will raise greater awareness of leprosy in the community and encourage people to join in the work of Leprosy Mission Australia to bring healing, dignity, and a brighter future for all who suffer.