Partnering with faith communities

In a country where the national health and social care infrastructure was very limited outside the major cities and is now virtually non-existent, the church has an important part to play. We work with 35 churches of different denominations within Yangon Region, Bago Region; Ayeyarwaddy Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, Karen State, Mon State and 20 churches in northern Shan state.

We encourage churches to demonstrate Christ’s love and compassion to people affected by leprosy and disability, to include them in church activities and to actively support them with access to health services, self-care, and rehabilitation.

Churches fighting leprosy transmission

Across the country, The Leprosy Mission is also providing training to churches and theological colleges so they can help identify new cases of leprosy in their parishes.

This is particularly important in the remote and conflict-affected north-east of the country, where we are working with a church-run partner to find new cases of leprosy and raise awareness of the disease. Leprosy is a disease that thrives in areas with poor sanitation, so these churches are also working to improve safe water supplies and sanitation.

Churches providing disability support

Fifteen churches have started running Disability Resource Centres. These provide physical rehabilitation through physiotherapy to overcome disabilities, ulcer care, and special education as well as counselling and emotional support to people affected by leprosy as well as those with disabilities from other causes.

Churches standing against discrimination

Leprosy is a disease that sadly leads to a lot of discrimination. Churches across Myanmar are standing alongside persons affected by leprosy in their communities when they are facing discrimination. Persons affected by leprosy are included meaningfully into the life of church congregations and churchgoers stand alongside persons affected by leprosy regardless of the stigma that surrounds leprosy in the community.

Some churches are even working to support hydropower initiatives that can light up remote villages and provide support to set up local schools in the absence of government support.