Leprosy

[Sister Alvear]

Brazil is second, after

India, for the total number of cases of

leprosy in the world. In 2003, there were nearly 50,000 new cases

of leprosy detected in the country. Several million Brazilians

live in favelas today. The situation in the favelas, with people

living

in cramped quarters, are ideal for the transmission of the disease.

I am going to paste a picture here of one of our pastors that is a leper.

[Sister Alvear]

[Sister Alvear]

Notice his hands...he cannot open them...The reason he has sunglasses on is that light affects their eyes. Many lepers go blind.

[Sister Alvear]

It was his church that a tornado destroyed...We raised some money in our special service in the north and I was up trying to raise a little more as he is rebuilding his church.

[Sister Alvear]

Brazil has one of the highest rates of leprosy in the world.


Brazil continues to suffer despite the fact that leprosy can be cured by giving patients a powerful cocktail of antibiotics.

Brazil is not alone. Figures from the World Health Organization show that 524,000 people in 103 countries were diagnosed with leprosy last year.

Leprosy is caused by a germ similar to that which causes tuberculosis.

The problem is early diagnosis

Professor Terence Ryan
It attacks the nerves of the hands, feet and face and, if left untreated, can deaden movement in fingers, toes and eyelids.

It can also destroy the ability to feel pain, so those affected are prone to injuries and burns which can result in serious infections, and can ultimately lead to the loss of fingers, toes and sight.

The longer the disease is left undetected, the more likely it is that the deformities, so often associated with leprosy, will occur.

BBC NEWS

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

When in Bible College, I preached about Leprosy. Actually in the 10 mins I had, I read the outline.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Brazil has one of the highest rates of leprosy in the world.


Brazil continues to suffer despite the fact that leprosy can be cured by giving patients a powerful cocktail of antibiotics.

Brazil is not alone. Figures from the World Health Organization show that 524,000 people in 103 countries were diagnosed with leprosy last year.

Leprosy is caused by a germ similar to that which causes tuberculosis.

The problem is early diagnosis

Professor Terence Ryan
It attacks the nerves of the hands, feet and face and, if left untreated, can deaden movement in fingers, toes and eyelids.

It can also destroy the ability to feel pain, so those affected are prone to injuries and burns which can result in serious infections, and can ultimately lead to the loss of fingers, toes and sight.

The longer the disease is left undetected, the more likely it is that the deformities, so often associated with leprosy, will occur.

BBC NEWS

Sister, has the pastor you mentioned been able to receive that "cocktail?"

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

When in Bible College, I preached about Leprosy. Actually in the 10 mins I had, I read the outline.

I remember the tie that you wore that day. I thought that it was a sermon illustration.

[Sister Alvear]

No because his was not caught in the early stages...He is from a little interior area where they probably have no real medical outreach...a very remote area...
One of his sons also pastor one of our churches and another son is a preacher. We are very blessed to have this whole family as a part of the work here.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Brazil is second, after

India, for the total number of cases of

leprosy in the world. In 2003, there were nearly 50,000 new cases

of leprosy detected in the country. Several million Brazilians

live in favelas today. The situation in the favelas, with people

living

in cramped quarters, are ideal for the transmission of the disease.

I am going to paste a picture here of one of our pastors that is a leper.

For a very enlightening look at leprosy, read Phillip Yancey's book, "The Gift of Pain" with Dr. Paul Brand.

One of the main problems with an individual with leprosy is that due to not feeling pain they injury themselves then infection sets in. Thus the title the "Gift of Pain" Dr. Brand spent much of his life treating individuals leprosy, living with them.