Worldwide, there are an estimated four million people affected by leprosy, with nearly 800,000 new cases detected each year-- that's over 2,000 people every day; and over 1 million people on active treatment. A further 2-3 million people are estimated to be living with continuing disability incurred through leprosy.

The Leprosy Mission England and Wales (TLMEW), a member of the wider international alliance of The Leprosy Mission (TLM), is assisting people affected by leprosy.

TLM provides medical and surgical services to those needing treatment by working through its own programmes or in partnership with government or non-governmental organisations and in partnership with people affected by leprosy.

However, people affected by leprosy not only need medicine, they need holistic care.

Those who experience a diagnosis of leprosy experience shame and rejection from their community, with all the disadvantages this implies for employment and family relations, but in an unhealthy number of cases, those affected by leprosy reject themselves resulting in a pattern of self-hatred, low self-esteem and further rejection.

TLM programmes aim not only to bring treatment, but to help those affected cope with their diagnosis, disability and social isolation with love, care and rehabilitation.

Currently a total of 179 projects are underway, which include:
South Asia: 112
Countries covered: Bhutan, India, Nepal and Uzbekistan
Population covered: 78,351,395
Number of leprosy affected beneficiaries: 230,292

SE Asia: 29
Countries covered: Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Thailand
Population covered: 54,757,931
Number of leprosy affected beneficiaries: 41,730

Africa: 38
Countries covered: Botswana, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Lesotho, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Population covered: 137,329,529
Number of leprosy affected beneficiaries: 26,497