21 January 2010
Press release
Scots asked to give one hour for people suffering with leprosy in 2010
Leprosy may be extinct in Scotland, but a local charity is appealing to Scots people to stand in the gap on World Leprosy Day this Sunday by giving one hour of their time for people suffering from that dreaded disease.
The Leprosy Mission Scotland, a Stirling-based charity which educates people in Scotland and enables them to help eradicate leprosy worldwide, is calling for action on January 31, World Leprosy Day.
Linda Todd, C.E.O of The Leprosy Mission Scotland, said: "Many of the people we speak to in Scotland are unaware leprosy still exists - but today, one person every two minutes will hear the dreaded words 'you have leprosy.'
"World Leprosy Day is a day to remember the difficulties and injustices facing people affected by leprosy and to renew our efforts to do something about it.
"There is a huge gap between our life style and theirs. We need the people of Scotland to stand in the gap and provide the resources needed, to fight with us for a just cause."
She added that although it is well over a hundred years since someone is know to have contracted leprosy in Scotland, it is still an active health and social problem in Asia and Africa.
"The age-old prejudice associated with the disease continues to devastate those who are afflicted with leprosy," she said
"Poverty and lack of medical care compound the problems. Thousands of patients are rejected by their families and friends and ostracized by the communities in which they live."
Ideas for how to help include giving an hour's pay to support The Leprosy Mission's work, giving an hour of your free time to pray, or running a coffee morning to tell people about TLM's work and raising vital funds.
For more information on leprosy and The Leprosy Mission Scotland, go to www.tlmscotland.org.uk or www.justcause.org.uk
Media Enquiries
Linda Todd, C.E.O. The Leprosy Mission Scotland
- Telephone: 01786 449266 / 07885 378978
Stuart McAra, Communications Manager, The Leprosy Mission Scotland
- Telephone: 07870 202821
Notes to Editors
The Evangelical Alliance, formed in 1846, is the largest body serving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has a membership including denominations, churches, organisations and individuals. The mission of the Evangelical Alliance is to unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and social transformation. According to a Tearfund survey (Churchgoing in the UK, 2007), there are approximately 2 million evangelical Christians in the UK. For more information please visit www.eauk.org
The Leprosy Mission Scotland is a partner in an international Christian organisation bringing healing, empowerment and restoration to those affected by leprosy. Working across the country The Leprosy Mission Scotland is educating, inspiring, equipping and enabling individuals, churches, groups and communities to participate in achieving a world without leprosy. The Leprosy Mission internationally is working toward the eradication of the causes and consequences of leprosy. We are a global network of organisations active in over 50 countries, supporting programmes in around 30 countries where leprosy is still a chronic disease and a social problem. TLM has served people affected by leprosy since 1874.
