The German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA) was established on 18th January 1957 in Würzburg, Germany, by two women and five men in order to support the leprosy work of Dr Féron in Ethiopia. An article written by Franz Graf von Magnis, one of the founders, about the work he had witnessed there of this French physician, had met with such an overwhelming and widespread response from persons all over the world that only a relief organisation could channel all of the donations.

Ever since its founding the GLRA has been helping millions of sick and marginalised people in the world. It has been able to ensure that 2.1 million persons newly diagnosed with leprosy have been given access to medical care. In addition, since 1990 its programmes have reached 3.9 million tuberculosis patients.

One of the greatest achievements to which GLRA has contributed was the development of multi-drug therapy (MDT) in the 1970s. Hermann Kober, another of the founders, had dedicated all of his effort into developing this important medication. With the implementation of MDT, leprosy became a curable disease and persons affected by leprosy no longer needed lifelong treatment.

Today the GLRA is supporting more than 300 relief projects in almost 40 countries. This includes hospitals and mobile medical services, the training of health staff and self-help tasks for disabled and marginalised people. None of these activities would have been possible without the support of the public who have donated a total of 633 million Euro since 1957.

GLRA took advantage of its jubilee year to organise several celebratory events. In April, for example, more than 50 representatives and medical advisors for the GLRA from India, Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan and other countries took part in a symposium held in Würzburg. The topics covered ranged from leprosy and TB projects, the integration of HIV elements into project activities, to digital patient registration, quality improvement and strategic partnerships.

On 28th April the celebrations culminated in a retrospective survey of fifty years' of GLRA's work for 700 guests from around the world, including volunteers and celebrities. At the beginning of the day medical staff from GLRA relief projects met at an information event and talked about leprosy work in the past and present, as well as about their achievements and challenges. Visitors were able to get an impression of volunteer work at the "market of possibilities", at which there were demonstrations of a wide range of fundraising activities from handicrafts to sports.

The highlight of the anniversary celebrations was the function held that evening. Pioneers of the early days, who had helped to build GLRA's first project in Bisidimo, Ethiopia, and former leprosy patient, Ato Dedo*, who later became the Manager of the Bisidimo Hospital, took the audience on a fascinating ride through half a century of leprosy work. Irene Kober, founding member, received the golden GLRA-pin of honour from Alois Pöschmann, the GLRA President. Furthermore, volunteers and celebrities like the Editor-in-Chief of the TV-channel RTL, Peter Kloeppel, the moderator Shary Reeves and former Secretary of State for Employment, Walter Riester, talked about their engagement for the relief organisation. After musicians from Togo had inspired the guests, the Ethiopian Corporate Consultant and author Dr Asfawossen Prince Asserate delivered the main speech about the relationship between Germany and Ethiopia. The audience also listened to other important speakers like the mayor of Würzburg, Dr Pia Beckmann, the President of the ILEP, Mr Rigo Peeters and Timothy Jayarai Devadas, Head of GLRA-Office in India.

A significant moment during the evening was the handing over of a cheque amounting to 190,000 Euro, which had been raised through a campaign run in conjunction with the regional newspapers of Würzburg. The result of this campaign topped all expectations. The press had serialized a special report over a five-week period about Togo and specifically about the Buruli ulcer project the GLRA is supporting in this country. This is one of the other "neglected diseases" for which GLRA has been caring since its decision in 2006 to broaden the scope of the relief it is offering. The fact that this campaign and other future campaigns will be held for diseases other than leprosy is reflected and summarised in the GLRA's anniversary slogan: "50 years - a beginning".

Article written by Christine Pierk, a student apprentice with GLRA.

Contact: Renate Vacker, Leader, Department of Press and Public Relations:
renate.vacker@dahw.de 

 

GLRA's HISTORY IN BRIEF 

1955
Franz Graf von Magnis, a journalist from Würzburg, and Richard Recke, a student of theology, met Dr Jean Féron, a leprosy doctor from France, in Ethiopia

1957
The Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk Dr Féron e.V. was founded on 18th January. Later that year the organisation was re-named Deutsches Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk e. V. (German Leprosy Relief Association - GLRA)

1958
GLRA sent aid workers to build the Bidisimo leprosy hospital in Ethiopia

1961
Collaboration with Dr Ruth Pfau began in Pakistan

1963
GLRA was supporting 83 leprosy hospitals and reaching around 75,000 persons affected by leprosy

1966
GLRA was one of the founding members of ELEP, which was to change its to name to the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations in 1975

1972
GLRA was supporting a research project on the island of Malta to find a better treatment for persons affected by leprosy under the leadership of Freerksen

1981
Multi-drug therapy, building on the findings of the Malta research project, is introduced. It proves to be a very effective cure for leprosy

1990
GLRA began to fund anti-tuberculosis activities

1997
By its fortieth year of existence GLRA had helped cure 1.5 million persons of leprosy and tuberculosis

2003
GLRA changed its name to the Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe (German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association). It began to target specific aid to tuberculosis patients, who had AIDS or were HIV positive

2005
By 2005 GLRA had helped 2.1 million new leprosy patients around the world receive treatment. It addition, it had helped 3.9 million persons with tuberculosis

2006
GLRA expands the aid it offers to Buruli ulcer, Chagas' disease and leishmaniaisis

2007
GLRA's Jubilee Year

GLRA, which is politically and denominationally independent, was a founding Member of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations.

 

 

* Please see separate article about the life of Ato Dedo

 

Category: Europe, Members