BAJURA, MARCH 04
A seventy-year-old elderly woman with leprosy, who was facing widespread discrimination and ill-treatment in Bajura, has been rescued and flown to Kathmandu.
Anakala Aauji, a permanent resident of Badhu village in Himali Rural Municipality of the district, was brought to Kathmandu by Shanti Sewa Griha in Tilgang, Kathmandu.
After reading the story of Aaujji's difficult condition in 'The Himalayan Times' on January 5, German national Marianne Grospietch – also the founder of Shanti Sewa Griha – came forward to help her, informed Apsara Karki, programme director at the social organisation.
The organisation flew Aauji to Kathmandu and will take the responsibility of her daily life, treatment, and if she wishes will house her in the organisation in Kathmandu, added Karki.
Meanwhile, Hema Gurung, currently residing in Japan, had provided a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 after reading about Aauji.
It has been learnt that as soon as the community and family members came to know about Aauji's health condition, she was immediately shifted to another location and was compelled to live in an animal shed nearby. She was also forbidden from using common public facilities.
After the diagnosis of leprosy, Aauji was taken to Nepalgunj for treatment by a non-government organisation, INF Nepal. She returned to the village after getting treatment for some time.
A local health worker in the village said that Aauji has been taking medications for about 10 months, and as such, the disease is now non-contagious, while also adding that if she continues to take her medication for another two months she will completely be cured.
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