The following ILEP Members are supporting anti-leprosy activities in Brazil:
- Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO)
- American Leprosy Missions (ALM)
- Comité International de l'Ordre de Malte (CIOMAL)
- Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe (DAHW)
- Damien Foundation Belgium (DFB)
- LEPRA Health in Action (LEPRA)
- Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR)
- Fontilles Lucha contra la Lepra (SF)

Below are descriptions of some of their typical activities.

Comité International de l'Ordre de Malte (CIOMAL)

Comité International de l'Ordre de Malte (CIOMAL)

CIOMAL has been actively supporting anti-leprosy activities in Piaui since 1999. Today it gives important support to government services, improving the quality of screening, patient follow-up and the prevention of disabilities for some 300,000 people, about 10% of the population of this State. In a year there is an average of 1000 consultations.

Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe (DAHW)

Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe (DAHW)

Visit the website of DAHW to learn about their work in Brazil (in Portuguese): http://www.dahwmt.org.br/

Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR)

Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR)

In Brazil NLR helps to strengthen the governmental health services in ten States: Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Sergipe, Amapa, Rondonia and Tocantins. Their Consultant in Brazil provides advice on the anti-leprosy support it offers in those States. 

LEPRA Health in Action (LEPRA)

LEPRA Health in Action (LEPRA)

LEPRA began working in Ceará in 1993. Support is given to training, monitoring and supervision and health education activities, such as:

  • Clinical training is primarily targeted at physicians and nurses in the Family Health Programme.
  • Training sessions have been given to biochemists and laboratory technicians to improve their skills in confirming leprosy diagnosis.
  • Nurses are shown how to treat and bandage patients with plantar ulcers.
  • Physiotherapists and nurses are shown practices to prevent disabilities.
  • Health education campaigns are carried out to inform the public of the signs and symptoms of leprosy and to emphasise it is curable. 
  • They have also supported theatre presentations and teacher training in schools to make children more aware of leprosy and to reduce the fear and stigma of this disease. 

Another project managed by LEPRA in this State promotes active case detection and awareness raising in schools, particularly those under the age of 15.

In Paraiba there are many who default on their leprosy treatment. LEPRA is running a project there, which is examining the reasons for why people decide to abandon their medication. The findings will be used to improve leprosy control strategy locally. Abandonment of MDT can lead to disability and relapses.

The aim of LEPRA’s project in Paraíba State is to capture disability-related information so as to be able to optimise resources and provide medical support according to patient needs and to be able to better plan prevention of disability and rehabilitation activities. It is hoped the information will enable a better understanding of physical disability and help identity patients at risk of disability. Equally, the project assists those who wish to set up self-help groups.

In association with Brazilian federal universities between 2001 and 2007Netherlands Leprosy Relief and LEPRA Health in Action organised five health systems research training courses on Hansen’s disease. Key personnel working in health systems research were invited to participate. Research proposals were developed during a health systems research workshop and carried out in the field, and included:

  • the integration of Hansen’s’ disease control programmes into the primary health care system;
  • the high percentage of new patients diagnosed/treated at referral centres;
  • the psychological/social impact of surgical rehabilitation;
  • the efficacy of neurolysis;
  • evaluation of quality of contacts; the impact of migration in Hansen’s disease control; the quality of the national health information system; and
  • the effectiveness of new case detection and health education campaigns.

Following the completion of the field work, the data were analysed and a research report written. Practical outcomes included the drafting of new Hansen’s disease control guidelines; improvement of national databases and the revision of epidemiological data.