Harrowing Tale of a Leprosy Patient Mofizul

There is a superstition in vogue in the rural villages that the leprosy disease is a curse though it has no scientific causes. It is curable disease like Tuberculosis(TB).  The deadly disease leprosy is increasing alarmingly in the district, according to Dr. Alok Kumar Das, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer(UHFPO), Meherpur Sadar.   It goes without saying  that the rural  people do not have any knowledge and awareness about leprosy disease.  In the past Bangla cinema watchers would see that a hero or heroin of Bangla drama  used to stay in a secluded room and nobody take care because he or she suffering from cursed disease leprosy.  Leprosy patients are so neglected in the society, nobody except mother  come into their touch.


Three sides of Meherpur district is surrounded by Indian border. The outbreak of the disease in the bordering villages. There is found no government initiative to identify the leprosy patient. The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh (TLMIB)  through SHALOM/Church of Bangladesh Social Development Project(CBSDP)  the work of identifying leprosy patient here in the district. But no speed in the work found as they have no requisite manpower. A worker of CBSDP Shandha Mondal used to do the work holding skin testing camps in different places who takes the leprosy patients to the Upazila Health and Family Planning Office(UHFPO) for  registration and medicines free of cost. The work of the organization would get speed if it had sufficient manpower.


AEP Coordinator Shandha Mondal told to me that the TLMIB started works on leprosy disease in Meherpur in 2015 under its Advocacy Empowerment Project (AEP). They managed to work in 16 villages in three upazilas of the district and hold some skin testing camp and more than five thousands people were tested from where they identified 156 leprosy attacked patients. She claimed that out of total 128 patients were totally cured and rest 28 are under treatment.  Some of them were rehabilited  by them.


However, by the by, she mentioned that a report was published in the Daily Observer on 18 June, 2016 under the title “Leprosy patients getting free medical treatment in Meherpur” that had created excitation among the concerned authorities as a result some designated officials came here to visit from the  land and the abroad.


In reply to a query Dr. G K M Shamsuzzaman, Civil Surgeon said it could not be possible to survey in the field level to identify the leprosy patients due to lack of requisite fund and manpower.


For the readers   a harrowing tale of a leprosy patient described  here.

Keshobpara is a small area in Meherpur municipality ward no. 6 where landless poor Mofizul (38) son of Mohiuddin Mollah  lives in a worn-out  hut in a damp environment along with his family members. In the year 2002 Mofizul had attacked with jaundice and he was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University by his poor father. After medical examination it was detected other two disease i.e. liver coerces and thalassemias . He would need ‘O’ positive blood every after two months by spending taka one thousand two hundred. 15 years continued treatment by selling his father’s only a piece of land. By this time another deadly disease leprosy developed in his physique but none of his family understood due to lack of knowledge and awareness about leprosy. Gradually his fingers started sepsis but no fruitful result received after dressing time and again. Slowly his fingers become curved as a result now he is disabled. He can’t do anything by his hands. Mofizul said with despondency that nobody calls him for work because he takes time 30 minutes to complete a job while a man easily can do within 10 minutes. Besides, he can not endure sunshine. Mofizul’s dream is to see a jolly and healthy family. Another aim is to eliminate dearth from the family. For which he took a loan of taka 46 thousand from a bank and purchased a milch cow. He earns taka four thousand per month by selling milk. Taka two thousand used to  spend for his children’s study and rest for the family. A piece of land he took as lease for cultivating grass and selling the same he repays the loan installments.


On 6 May 2018 a foreigner Tom Bradly came to Meherpur with TLMIB to visit physically the activities of SHALOM  who went to leprosy patient Rehena Khatun at city’s Keshobpara. At that time the wife of Mofizul presented there who narrated the physical condition of her husband to Mr. Ziptha, Program Coordinator, TLMIB. Mofizul was identified as leprosy patient and Mr. Ziptha arranged his treatment through Upazila health complex.


However, Mofizul meanwhile has got some government assistance. Taka fifty thousand from Social Welfare department for liver coerces and VGF rice in last eid-ul-fitr.


When asked Shahana wife of Mofizul to express her feelings after knowing that her husband is a leprosy patient. She said,”If the disease diagnosed earlier , it might be today we would not  experience the present position. It is good job to remain beside the patient, giving services that I am doing. I have no dream to make another nest leaving ailing husband. Of course there is want in the family for his disability but there is no want of love”.  Shahana deeming Mofizul is a good man that is why she wants to live along with him. She passing her days in mental agony in relates to educational expenses of her daughter is reading in class nine and twine boys. She sought help for her children’s education.