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Barry Copeland September 9th 2021
 

The general situation in India has been widely reported over the past few months, including on this website (see below). Suffice to say, India has been in a state of medical emergency caused by the Delta wave of COVID-19 and its healthcare system has, at times, been on the verge of collapse.

With specific regards to leprosy, there is evidence that up to 60 - 80% of new cases in India could be missed this year. Only 8,270 new cases were  reported between April & September 2020, compared to about 22,000 in the same period in 2019 – a fall of 63%.

In the Koraput district a similarly difficult scenario has prevailed. As previously described, the project focuses not just on active case finding but also on screening those likely to have had close contact with someone affected by leprosy, with up to 20 households being screened whenever a case is detected. Extensive school screening programmes had also been developed. All of these have virtually ceased, as Lockdowns have been imposed by both the Regional and Federal Governments over several periods, during which the majority of the medical and public health services came to a grinding halt.

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The Koraput Centre has not been receiving patients since April 2020 for a variety of reasons, not all Covid related. It is leased from the Indian Government by Lepra, and services are fully integrated into the local Ministry of Health, filling vital gaps where there is no other provision. Currently it houses a laboratory with a lab technician and a footwear facility employing a designated shoe technician, whilst one part-time peripatetic physiotherapist is based there. In April 2021, belatedly recognising the value of the by now closed inpatient ward, the district authorities invited Lepra to submit reopening plans. Even if the response from the Local Government is that they are unable or unwilling to make any financial provision, Lepra intends to reopen the inpatient ward in October 2021 and if necessary will provide the required funding itself.

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As things stand Koraput is still open, we are still raising money to fund it and our funding is being used for that purpose. Thus we are complying with our own Trust Deed and the conditions under which we are accepted as a charity. The Koraput Centre Budget for 2021/22 with no inpatient ward costs is £14,574, of which we are providing £8761 or 60%. In just over 7 years of existence we have thus donated over £49,200 to Koraput.

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In my report last year I suggested that we could be facing a 20% (£1000) reduction in our income due to the financial effects of Covid. Although UK monthly donations had understandably dropped from £360 per month in 2019/20 to £280 per month at the start of 2020/21, our regular supporters remained remarkably resolute and consequently they didn’t drop any further. This was coupled with an incredible reaction to my sponsored 1000 miles for £1000 cycling in October 2020, as outlined below. Consequently and very unexpectedly this has been an incredibly successful year of fundraising, in fact our most successful one yet!

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Currently UK monthly donations are now £290 per month, with a subsequent annual Gift Aid top up of £615. That guarantees us an income of at least £4,100 this year before we also consider funds raised through sponsored events or donations from outside the UK. My hope is that we can always support Lepra with a minimum of £5000 each year, so once again we are well on course to achieve that THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

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