Persons with leprosy receive donations
* Damien the Leper (DLS) made the donation through the effort of Dumarao Paglaum Development Association, Inc.
Family Outreach
The Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara became a recipient of P720,000 from the Damien The Leper (DLS) through the effort of Dumarao Paglaum Development Association Inc. (DPAI) last June 5, 2008. The funds will be used to purchase prosthetics limbs, wheelchairs, crutches and medicines for the patients of the said leprosarium.
ABOUT DLS
DLS is based in Pensacola, Florida and it is a liaison between victims of leprosy and their benefactors. DLS receives donations and sends them to the nonprofit organizations such as religious institutions and dioceses which are directly helping the lepers and their children. All of their projects are monitored carefully and modified when needed to achieve the desired results. Because most of their projects and programs are so fundamentally basic, such as providing clean drinking water from a new well or administering healing medication to a sick child, success is realized almost immediately.
HOW THE DONATIONS ARE USED
EDUCATION. Making education available for children is an important part of eradicating leprosy. this includes education in personal hygiene so that they learn care for themselves properly. Their goals include establishing job-training centers, child-care centers and classrooms.
Dumarao Paglaum Development Association, Inc. pose with residents of the
Western Visayas Leprosarium
FAMILY OUTREACH. Childcare is provided so adults can work in the fields. Agricultural training as well as specialized tools are furnished for those who have lost their hands. Plants and fertilizer are supplied and houses are built to replace run-down shacks.
PROVIDING FOOD. A child who normally wanders in the jungle searching for food can be fed for six months along with his family on a simple donation of $40.
A generous donation of $500 would provide plants, fertilizer, and training for a village in growing their own food.
SANITATION. Leprosy can be combated to day by better sanitation, eradication of identified sources of infection, and the continuing development of therapeutic agents. Sanitation is provided by constructing showers, wells and restrooms.
These children now enjoy clean water from the well.
Medical Mission Brgy. Cadingle, Dumarao, Capiz
BUILDING HOMES. A $2000 donation can turn a grass roof hut into a new home for an entire family with many young children.
PROVIDING SPECIAL SHOES. Leprosy causes dreadful deformities of the feet. With a single $100 donation, 55 lepers can be fitted with specialized shoes for their feet.
PROVIDING CLEAN WATER. Donate $2000 to construct a fresh water system that will provide drinking water for a village. People are happy with their new source of water.
LEPROSY
Leprosy (also known as Hansen's Disease) is a chronic infective disease, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Leprae. It chiefly affects the skin and the nerves causing paralysis of their fingers, toes, hands, feet, and other extremities.
In 1985, 5.4 million known cases existed, with the total estimated cases in the 10-12 million range. By 1997, known cases were reduced to 900,000, and total estimated worldwide cases were only about 1.2 million. In the year 1985, 550,000 new cases were detected, and in 1997, this figure was 675,000. Importantly, consider that the more cases detected, the more cases available for cure.
Males become infected at about a 2 to 1 ratio over females. Race is not a factor in susceptibility. However, children are at higher risk than adults are. In fact, the number of children's cases detected per year went from 61,000 in 1985 to 97,000 in 1997. It is not known how many children's cases are undetected worldwide.
Leprosy is being assaulted by treatment with MTD (Multi Drug Therapy), which consists primarily of dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine. The theory is that if the disease should develop an immune resistance to one of the drugs, then one of the others can and will still overcome it. This has worked extremely well.
Despite the positive strides, leprosy remains a large worldwide problem. India, Myanmar, and Indonesia account for about 70% of all cases. It is also endemic to Mexico, South America, China, Australia, and the Caribbean area, among others.
America does not escape unscathed. Although active numbers have been reduced, there are still about 7,000 active cases in the U.S. Leprosy is endemic to Texas, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Southern California. Many of these cases are believed to have been brought in by travelers and immigrants.
As impressive as the cure-rate is, it is important to remember that for every leper cured, there remains a cripple – eithermentally, physically, psychologically, or socially – or any combination of these. It is estimated that 10 million or more such people exist. That is the number of patients cured in the past 15 years; it presents a gigantic challenge to a caring world.
ABOUT DPAI
Dumarao Paglaum Development Association Inc. (DPAI) was founded in November 2007. It is a non-stock and non-profit association.
Its officers are Florentino Arancillo, President; Norlita M. Salcedo, vice president; Perlie Joy Paredes, treasurer; Filomeno Bedona, Jr., secretary and Board of Directors are Edgardo M. arancillo, Gaudencio M. Arancillo, Lorenza S. Arancillo, Fatima I. Tanco, Renolo L. Legada, Rosalinda Jardeleza, Dolse A. Ramirez and Diosdado Tanco, Jr.
DPAI was formed to help less fortunate people by establishing income generating projects through trainings and seminars, cooperating with LGus and NGOs on development programs of the community and extending cooperations to the government agencies on their endeavors geared towards socio-economic programs.
DPIA's track record includes: training programs on food processing and costmetology, bookkeeping for small entrepreneur in cooperation with CPU-Sife (Students in Free Enterprise); medical mission in Barangays Cadingle, Tumalalod, Poblacion Ilawod Dumarao and Capiz; and solicitation of donations of P720,000 for prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, crutches and medicines for patients of Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo from DLS.