The Evangelical Missionary Society in Mayurbhajan started in 1895 when the first missionary lady arrived in the district. Within a year the local Maharaja opened a beggars' home and gave it to the missionary to run. this was the beginning of the Leprosy Home. The Home was affiliated to the Leprosy Mission from whom it receives some support. it moved to the present location on the outskirts of Baripada in 1907.
Present Status
Mayurbhanj is a northern district of Orissa bordering Bihar and West Bengal. Baripada is
Patient Accommodation Block
Patients come from Mayurbhanj, other districts of Orissa and neighboring areas of Bihar and West Bengal. patients admitted include those with drug reactions, those with bad ulcers, the bad lepromatous cases, some who cannot get treatment in the interior villages and some for social reasons.
A patient soaking his foot before dressing the ulcer
Dispensing daily leprosy Medicine
At present there is a part time doctor and 2 trained paramedical workers. multi-drug Therapy is given to all patients and ulcer treatment and rehabilitation are undertaken. there is a small laboratory where skin smears and blood tests are done.
The small show department, run by an ex-patient, trained as a shoemaker, makes all the micro-cellular rubber shoes needed by the patients..
Basket & mat Weaving from Sobai Grass a kind of Strong Grass grown in Mayurbhanj District
In the rehabilitation centre patients use sobai grass to make mats and baskets. They also undertake weaving of Sarees, lungis and other items needed in the home. Patients run the farm, which has milking cows, goats, sheep, ducks, chicken and fish. There is an abundance of fruit trees. Rice, other corps and sobai grass are grown in the fields. these items help to supplement the diet of the patients and bring some income.
Mat Weaving in sobai Grass- Part of the Rehabilitation of the patients
The leprosy home is mainly financed by the Evangelical Missionary Society in Mayurbhanj with smaller contributions from the Leprosy Mission, the Government of Orissa Health Department and local donors.
Male Patients after being issued with New Clothes for Christmas
Our Vision is for a 40 bed Referral Hospital
Where the following can be done:
A) Reconstructive surgery for clawed hands, foot drop, eye lids.
B) Special treatment during lepra reactions so as to prevent nerve damage.
C) A place for those who need hospitalization during complications of a general nature, or Surgery but cannot get in a general hospital due to the stigma of leprosy.
D) Specialized ulcer care. many needing this care are to be found in Orissa
The need for such a hospital will be very long term to address the effects to nerve damage and deformity, which are not eradicated immediately with the disease.
Proposed Site for Hospital
There is heavy incidence of T.B. in the state of which many cases are neglected and in the future the hospital could be utilized to address this and other general needs if, and when it is no longer needed as urgently for leprosy sufferers.
The Referral hospital will be a great asset to this tribal district and great service in helping those suffering from leprosy and in the eradication of the disease in the state.
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