Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse

History and achievements

Lepra.ch was officially founded in 1959. 1965 saw the first publication of the information bulletin 'Ein Herz für die Aussätzigen'/'Espoir pour les Lépreux' ('Hope for People affected by Leprosy') which has been published four to five times a year ever since.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Lepra.ch took on the national country co-ordinations for ILEP in Morocco, Turkey, Cameroon, RCA and Sri Lanka, which it still currently holds. In addition, Lepra.ch has been co-ordinating leprosy activities in Karnataka State, India, since 1997. In 1976, in co-operation with DAHW, Lepra.ch opened the regional office for India and Sri Lanka in Chennai (Madras). It also financed the building of two leprosy hospitals in Southern India, in Hubli in 1976 and in Palamaner in 1977. In 1980, Lepra.ch opened a regional office for Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon. In 2001, it financed the extension of the hospital in Ayos, Cameroon, to serve as a reference centre for the treatment of Buruli ulcer.

Lepra.ch was a founding Member of ILEP.

Priorities

In line with its motto, "Towards a world without leprosy", Lepra.ch supports more than 100 projects in 20 different countries focussing on:

• early detection
• reconstructive surgery
• social and vocational rehabilitation
• care of the handicapped
• health education and preventative measures
• fight against stigmatisation

Lepra.ch also supports research projects and informs the general public in Switzerland about leprosy and Buruli ulcer.