MYANMAR Micro-credit scheme helps leprosy patients help themselves

Teenia Harmon
10-23-09
3:12 pm
In Thayet Myanmar, Ko Aung and other people who suffer from leprosy are getting a second chance. This second chance comes in the form of a micro-credit program led by a group of nuns. His family is one of 23 in the area that suffers from leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, and receive benefits from the Myanmar Christian Leprosy Mission. The disease has had a huge impact on the people. “Everyone over the age of 50 in these families have the disease, as do some younger family members, although school-age children are free from it.” Before the nuns helped them their only option for income was to beg, and that was not enough to sustain a family. now the nuns provide the families with micro-credit programs that allow them to participate in agriculture, tailoring, masonry, and carpentry, and to pay for goods their children need for school like uniforms and books. These loans seem to be helping. Ko Aung was loaned 100000 kyats with three percent interest which he used to buy seeds, and after one year he was able to pay back the loan and profit 250000 kyats. The nuns not only provide these loans but also help those who suffer from leprosy medically, and try to improve the people’s education.
I think this is a really interesting story. I have heard about leprosy a lot from the Bible, but I did not really know that it was much of an issue now a days, I think it is really sad that this disease has such a huge impact on these people when it is not all that contagious, and can apparently be prevented. I also think it is pretty awesome how the nuns are helping these people. They are giving them what they need to survive, and to take care of themselves for years to come. The loans are to be paid back, but there is no pressure to do so, unlike that received by the loan sharks in my article a couple weeks ago. I also think it is cool that they are free to use their loan in agriculture like planting, or with animals. I am an optimist so I really love to read the stories about good things happening in the world and this clearly falls under that category.
source: http://www.ucanews.com/2009/10/21/micro-credit-scheme-helps-leprosy-patients-help-themselves/