Woman treats leprosy patients for free
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Kabita Bhattarai has treated nearly half a million patients for free in her 240-bed leprosy hospital |
The will of the god is that I serve the people who have been deprived of basic human rights," Kabita said. Born in Nepal, Kabita first started out at her mentor Baba Christo Das's small leprosy hospital. Now, she manages 21 colonies housing leprosy patients, provides free education to over 1,000 children and teaches new vocational skills to her patients and their family members.
he model she has evolved is quite innovative. Patients get admitted for free treatment of their disease and in turn, their family members work voluntarily at the fields, hospital, school and dairy farms owned by her organisation called 'Little Flower'. The peripheral activities that 'Little Flower' generate enough income to sustain its core activity of treating leprosy patients. Kabita gets around 50 cases of leprosy patients every day in her ashram. Ironically, the government of India has declared India a leprosy-free country in 2005. It may be time for the society to shed the castaway tag attributed to leprosy patients and embrace them just as Kabita has.
As director of the Little Flower Leprosy Association, Kabita Bhattarai has been doing just that! In a society where fear, stigma and rejection surround leprosy, Kabita is described as a crusader in the battle against the disease. Little Flower, which now encompasses a hospital, school, housing, and income generating activities, takes up all of her time and energy which she gives freely and unstintingly, exemplified further by her refusal to accept a salary.
The Leger Foundation is proud to be supporting Little Flower Leprosy Associationthrough its international development programs, and that all of Kabita’s heroic work and dedication is being recognized.
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