Jan Robijn, the Netherlands Leprosy Relief Representative in Vietnam, has written about a day - every day - in the life of his team, which is a day spent supporting the projects in Vietnam and promoting knowledge about leprosy. This is the first of three installments which will be published on the ILEP website before the end of 2007!

 

NLR office team arriving at work
© Jan Robijn, NLR Vietnam

 

"Is leprosy still a problem in Vietnam?" is one of the frequently asked questions that they have to answer. "Hasn't this disease been eliminated for years already? Isn't there a cure for the disease nowadays? How can it still be a problem then?" They have to repeat it over and over again: "No! Leprosy has not been eliminated. Leprosy is still a real problem in the daily life of many people and these people need our and your attention."

It has not always been this easy for Hien, Han, Hoa, Lan, Quynh Anh and Hiep to talk about leprosy. Years ago, when they started to work for NLR, they often hesitated to talk about leprosy or about their work for NLR especially with their friends and family, fearing that they would not agree for them to do this work and that they would have asked them to stop. "Leprosy is a dangerous disease." "Aren't you afraid to be infected and then to be a risk to us?" "You should not do this work!"

But nowadays they do not find it difficult to face and answer any question. In their years with NLR they have studied the facts, talked with the medical advisors of NLR during their field visits, and met many patients under treatment and disabled ex-patients. They have learned that the disease is curable and, if treated in time, does not have to cause disabilities. They know that it is no longer necessary for persons affected by leprosy to lead life in isolation and that the stigma that so many ex-patients suffer is not justified, and that with the help of rehabilitation much can be done to improve the quality of life of the people who have become disabled by leprosy.

They now feel that they have a nice job with a good organization and that the work they do is useful and helps to improve the lives of many of their countrywomen and -men.

Compared with other countries Vietnam has a very large number of people who have been disabled by leprosy in the past, among whom many have had one or both legs amputated. Their need for aftercare is huge, especially for prosthetic care, physiotherapy, orthopaedic footwear and eye care. To address this need, NLR has helped to set up a large medical rehabilitation programme in co-operation with existing medical services in Vietnam. As part of this programme, rehabilitation outreach teams travel almost every week to leprosy hospitals, colonies and settlements where they help to provide rehabilitation care. In Part Two of A Day in the Life of NLR Vietnam, we will take you with us on one of these outreach visits. Much of the work of our Hien, Han, Hoa, Lan, Quynh Anh and Hiep is aimed at improving the lives of these people.

It is 8 o'clock in the morning now. I hear them coming up the stairs to the office talking loudly. I just know they are smiling too! That is one thing that has not changed since they started working for NLR. They are a noisy, happy bunch. Each day again eager to start a new working day.

Contact: Jan Robijn nlrvietnam@hn.vnn.vn 

Category: Field Activities