TLM Naini gives reason to smile...
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14 year old Aftab Alam , the eldest of four siblings , comes from a very poor family
from district Jaunpur , Uttar Pradesh. His father is a daily wage worker who earns
a meager wage of Rs. 70 – 80 per day making carpets, which is nowhere near enough
for the family to meet their basic needs. Aftab developed paralysis (claw hand deformity)
in the right hand and was diagnosed to have leprosy 2 years ago. He took treatment
(MDT) from the local government hospital for 1 year. However, since he had the claw,
he was depressed and lost confidence in himself. His parents were very worried because
Aftab stopped going to school and also because they feared rejection from the community
since Aftab had a visible deformity. Aftab was not able to hold a pen / write, play
cricket (his favorite game) with his friends, throw a ball as well as he could earlier
etc. He very sadly said that he wanted to enjoy himself like other children, but
could not.
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Aftab was studying in class 8 in a government school, but had dropped out a year
ago. However, he now looks forward to going back to school after surgical correction
of his deformity. He looks forward to a bright future after the surgery. He visited
TLM Naini on 28/10/09 for reconstructive surgery. He has had the surgery (PL LASSO
WITH FASCIA LATA) and post –op surgical physiotherapy. He should be able to rejoin
school by the next academic session.
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After completion of post op physiotherapy we see a very different Aftab, self confident,
happy and eager to get back into the mainstream of society. He now says “I can play
my favorite game cricket and do everything that my other friends are doing. I can
write without any difficulty and will enroll myself in school. I am so happy to
see my deformed hand now changed into a normal hand – my parents are very grateful
to TLM Naini and relieved that they will no longer need to fear rejection by the
community.”
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Contact Information
The Leprosy Mission Hospital
PO - Naini, Allahabad - 211 008
Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
Phone: +91 532 2697267
Fax: +91 532 2697494
E-mail: naini@leprosymission.in
Donations given at The Leprosy Mission Trust India are exempted u/s 80G of IT Act 1961