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Sr Mary and Sr Pushpa with children | Fifteen kilometres from the town of Nellore in the Andhra Pradesh State in India is the Bethsaida Rehabilitation Centre. It is a leprosy colony which was established more than 30 years ago by the then bishop of the diocese. He took the initiative of gathering 50 lepers from the streets of Nellore who were considered rejects of society and gave them somewhere to live.
The bishop negotiated a long term lease for 170 acres of land which was, at the time, way out of town. The diocese helped build simple houses and provide the necessary medical attention.
This care and nurturing of the community continues today, and Bethsaida Rehabilitation Centre is run by the Church and the Sisters of Charity of St Anne. There is a community of three religious sisters headed by Sr Mary, a full-time priest, Fr Philip, and lay-brother all stationed there full time.
Care and housing is provided on a needs- basis with no regard of religious background. There is a mix of Hindus, Christians and Muslims all living peacefully together and all happily and voluntarily participate at community liturgies.
All the adults and children at Bethsaida receive special medical care and the leprosy is contained. All adults are now free from the infection, but they often need monitoring and dressing of their wounds. One of the effects of leprosy is the loss of feeling in the limbs and they often cut or hurt themselves.
All the children living there are healthy and free from leprosy.
Due to the fact that the children’s parents have had leprosy, they are not fully accepted into society, with so much fear and ignorance surrounding the disease even today. Many people are still scared of infection, although the adults are not contagious and there is a cure.
Government schools in the nearby town of Nellore wouldn’t accept the children from Bethsaida to study, so the Sisters began their own schooling in the centre to give their children the opportunity of education and eventually employment.
Through the work of Sr Mary and others, gradual understanding and acceptance are increasing with general community perceptions improving. Now children who have completed primary school studies at Bethsaida are accepted into the local high schools without the stigma attached to the disease.
This is not true for all areas of India. With the prejudice people still have towards leprosy sufferers and their families, Bethsaida accepts many children from other leprosy colonies from as far away as 300 kilometres. These children wouldn’t have had an opportunity to receive an education. Currently there are 120 student boarders receiving that right.
For those children who have completed their schooling, they have all successfully found employment in the nearby town.
It is through education and understanding that fear and prejudice towards leprosy patients is changing. Bethsaida Rehabilitation Centre offers all the people living there personal dignity.
Throughout World Mission Month we are all called upon to challenge our own prejudices and fears that we may carry.
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