Key Contacts & Links

Philippines Leprosy Mission

The Philippines Leprosy Mission (PLM) is a non-profit church-related agency dedicated to the welfare of people affected by leprosy. PLM works for the prevention of leprosy, and the care, cure and rehabilitation of persons with leprosy and disabilities to help them attain social acceptability, economic empowerment and spiritual maturity.

PLM works in partnership with the Department of Health in the following areas: treatment and after-care of patients (including POD); physical rehabilitation; training of health workers; information dissemination; policy direction; Monitoring and Evaluation of National Leprosy Control Programme activities; and community development.

Please see the PLM website for more information: http://www.leprosy.org.ph/

Culion

Culion was established on Culion in the Palawan Group of Islands on 22^nd August 1904. Then there were around 3,500 - 4,000 cases of leprosy in The Philippines and it was the practice to isolate people affected by leprosy to avoid further infections. It became the largest leprosarium in the world. Scientists were attracted there to conduct research. For example in 1921 physicians carried out clinical trials into early anti-leprosy medicines, particularly Chaulmoogra oil. Today there is also an on-site museum, open since 1997, including rare books about leprosy, journals, references, apparatus and patient records.

Please see the Culion website for more information: http://www.culion.net/index.html   

FAHAN (Foundation for Assistance to Hansenites)

FAHAN is based in the Philippines and works to support persons affected by leprosy and persons living with HIV /AIDS to integrate in the community and live in freedom and dignity.

FAHAN’s activities include: providing support to newly-diagnosed persons affected by leprosy to attend regular treatment and be involved in organised self-care groups; providing educational support for children of persons affected by leprosy; facilitating community awareness raising about leprosy in order to increase case-detection; and providing livelihoods and skills training opportunities.

Please see the FAHAN website for more information: http://fahaninc.multiply.com/

Leonard Wood Memorial

The Leonard Wood Memorial (LWM) grew out of the visionary humanitarian concern
of Major General Leonard Wood. On becoming the United States governor-general of the Philippines in 1921, Wood visited the leprosarium on Culion Island, which had seven thousand segregated leprosy patients. Overwhelmed by their situation, he vowed to work to help them.

The purpose and mission of the LWM is to work towards the eradication of leprosy in the Philippine Islands and throughout the world through supporting, maintaining and conducting relevant research and clinical work and cooperating with like-minded organizations in the pursuit of the final cure for leprosy, TB and related diseases.

Please note that recently LWM has changed its name to Cebu Leprosy and Tuberculosis Research Foundation (CLTRF).

Please see the organisation website for more information: http://www.leonardwoodmemorial.org

• You can find more information about ILEP's support to research about Leprosy here.
• For information about training opportunties, please click here.