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CIOMAL is the Order of Malta's specific unit for dealing with the victims of Leopracy. Our main areas of operations are currently Brazil, Cambodia, Cuba, Senegal and Thailand.
Leprosy is no longer a lifelong torture, misery and exclusion. Provided the disease is diagnosed early enough, there need be no lasting disfigurement – and consequently no exclusion – so tragically the case when it is left untreated. After the first day of treatment, the patient is no longer infectious but a complete cure may take up to one year. Once treatment has begun, the patient can return to his community and learn how to support himself, in the follow-up to his treatment, in overcoming depression, |
and in the development of small business enterprises. CIOMAL helps with all these stages. Close attention is paid to the problems of depression which are a part of the disease and which can seriously affect treatment.
CIOMAL currently spends a total of $550,000 annually to finance the whole leprosy programme, from detection to rehabilitation. If this sum is divided by the 1100 patients who are cured or followed up each year, the average cost per patient is 500 dollars per year. If the duration of treatment is taken into account – 56 days – the cost per day per patient is nine dollars. So, with just nine dollars a day, CIOMAL offers a cure and a fresh start to each patient.
CIOMAL has already cured more than 20,000 lepers.
The British Association, has recently committed to contributing a regular annual fee in support of this work of the Order of Malta.
You can read more about CIOMAL on their website: http://www.ciomal.ch |
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