Even after leprosy individuals have been cured and
rehabilitated back into the society, for many the stigma of leprosy is still
real and needs to be addressed. It is simply not enough for the medical
professionals and society to manage the disease and ignore the individual as a
whole person. Many, despite their leprosy being dealt with, are still living a
sub-existence, mere shadows of their former selves and their true potentials. There
are two components of the approach to tackling stigma in leprosy: to help those
actually affected by stigma and to prevent stigmatization of others in the
future. To achieve this, there is need for proper health education of the
society and the individuals affected by this disease.
rehabilitated back into the society, for many the stigma of leprosy is still
real and needs to be addressed. It is simply not enough for the medical
professionals and society to manage the disease and ignore the individual as a
whole person. Many, despite their leprosy being dealt with, are still living a
sub-existence, mere shadows of their former selves and their true potentials. There
are two components of the approach to tackling stigma in leprosy: to help those
actually affected by stigma and to prevent stigmatization of others in the
future. To achieve this, there is need for proper health education of the
society and the individuals affected by this disease.
Noordeen (2010) stated
that the challenges faced by leprosy individuals after rehabilitation can be
reduced through the following measures:
that the challenges faced by leprosy individuals after rehabilitation can be
reduced through the following measures:
1.
Manage Leprosy Like Other Diseases: There should be awareness among health
professionals involved in providing leprosy care that it does not help to manage
leprosy differently from other diseases. Diagnosing and managing leprosy
through the public health system is vital if we are to avoid continuing stigma
and prejudice against leprosy individuals. The fact that leprosy individuals
are managed separately lead to self-stigmatization among the individuals themselves
and high levels of social stigma in their communities. Integration management
of leprosy individuals into general health services may have other benefits for
individuals such as shorter distances to travel for management, earlier
diagnosis and therefore reduced disabilities (Aluko, 2007).
Manage Leprosy Like Other Diseases: There should be awareness among health
professionals involved in providing leprosy care that it does not help to manage
leprosy differently from other diseases. Diagnosing and managing leprosy
through the public health system is vital if we are to avoid continuing stigma
and prejudice against leprosy individuals. The fact that leprosy individuals
are managed separately lead to self-stigmatization among the individuals themselves
and high levels of social stigma in their communities. Integration management
of leprosy individuals into general health services may have other benefits for
individuals such as shorter distances to travel for management, earlier
diagnosis and therefore reduced disabilities (Aluko, 2007).
2.
Education: There should be adequate awareness about leprosy
and decrease the false beliefs that underlie its associated stigma. As can be
expected, stigma is much more prevalent among those who are uneducated. Education
needs to be three-pronged, teaching individuals, their peers and young people.
Teaching those with leprosy about their disease enables them to be empowered in
their management and to have the confidence and knowledge to counteract opposition
they may face from others. This can help acceptance of their condition and decrease
self-loathing. It is not enough to educate only individuals with leprosy; their
communities need to be educated as well. Education should be tailored to suit
the particular community, taking into account local cultural and religious
beliefs (Kushwah, Govila, Upadhyay & Kushwah, 2011).
Education: There should be adequate awareness about leprosy
and decrease the false beliefs that underlie its associated stigma. As can be
expected, stigma is much more prevalent among those who are uneducated. Education
needs to be three-pronged, teaching individuals, their peers and young people.
Teaching those with leprosy about their disease enables them to be empowered in
their management and to have the confidence and knowledge to counteract opposition
they may face from others. This can help acceptance of their condition and decrease
self-loathing. It is not enough to educate only individuals with leprosy; their
communities need to be educated as well. Education should be tailored to suit
the particular community, taking into account local cultural and religious
beliefs (Kushwah, Govila, Upadhyay & Kushwah, 2011).
3.
Changing the Image of Leprosy: One way of changing perceptions of leprosy is by
using the media. All components of the media should be targeted, including
radio, television soaps, music, jingles, billboards, buses and walls posters.
Instead of the previous negative portrayals of leprosy on television, it should
be portrayed in a positive light with people being happily cured (Onyia, 2010)
Changing the Image of Leprosy: One way of changing perceptions of leprosy is by
using the media. All components of the media should be targeted, including
radio, television soaps, music, jingles, billboards, buses and walls posters.
Instead of the previous negative portrayals of leprosy on television, it should
be portrayed in a positive light with people being happily cured (Onyia, 2010)
4.
Physical And Socio-Economic Rehabilitation: Much has to be done to rehabilitate those affected
by leprosy. To be accepted in their community, the disabled must be trained to
overcome their disabilities and do every day things again. Programmes that
teach new skills and trades to people affected by leprosy can help this
acceptance. Rehabilitation schemes should involve training and setting up small
businesses. It is important to rehabilitate those with leprosy alongside those
with disability from other diseases in order to help them reintegrate into
their original societies, rather than stay in the confines of a leprosy
community (Akinsola, 2005).
Physical And Socio-Economic Rehabilitation: Much has to be done to rehabilitate those affected
by leprosy. To be accepted in their community, the disabled must be trained to
overcome their disabilities and do every day things again. Programmes that
teach new skills and trades to people affected by leprosy can help this
acceptance. Rehabilitation schemes should involve training and setting up small
businesses. It is important to rehabilitate those with leprosy alongside those
with disability from other diseases in order to help them reintegrate into
their original societies, rather than stay in the confines of a leprosy
community (Akinsola, 2005).
5.
Counselling: People affected by leprosy can benefit from
counselling to help them cope with their disease and avoid self-stigmatization
and empower them to face discrimination. Individual counselling, however, can
be a slow process benefiting only a few individuals because of financial and
personnel constraints. A better alternative may be group counselling. This has been
shown to help by ensuring that those affected by leprosy do not feel alone, as
well as helping them understand and overcome the damaging effects of
stigmatization (Kaduna State Ministry of Health, 2007).
Counselling: People affected by leprosy can benefit from
counselling to help them cope with their disease and avoid self-stigmatization
and empower them to face discrimination. Individual counselling, however, can
be a slow process benefiting only a few individuals because of financial and
personnel constraints. A better alternative may be group counselling. This has been
shown to help by ensuring that those affected by leprosy do not feel alone, as
well as helping them understand and overcome the damaging effects of
stigmatization (Kaduna State Ministry of Health, 2007).
