The international focus of the Order of St. Lazarus is the eradication of leprosy. World Leprosy Day is observed to raise awareness of the role of the Order of St. Lazarus in actively treating those with leprosy and in joining with those who are working to end it.
The Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem has been caring for victims of leprosy since the late 1300’s as recorded in historic records. The Signature Project of the Order has been helping those less fortunate, the downtrodden, those ridiculed by society and condemned to live with disability, likely in extreme poverty and isolation.
Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease is an infectious disease that is spread through close contact with someone who has the disease. If affects children and adults. Every two minutes, someone in the world is infected with Leprosy. The disease, if untreated, causes nerve damage and weakness which eventually causes crippling debility, blindness and isolation. It’s estimated that over 4 million people in the world have this disease and in the US, approximately 150 new cases are diagnosed annually.
Diagnosis is very difficult, often requiring multiple, painful biopsies of nerve tissue. Treatment has been available since the 1950’s but since antibiotic resistance to the first drugs has developed, multiple drug therapy (MDT) is now required. A vaccine is in clinical trials after receiving FDA approval in 2017 and is showing great promise, however the Covid -19 pandemic of 2020 has stalled deployment of vaccine trials around the world.
The Grand Priory of America ( The Order of ST. Lazarus )over the past decade has donated close to $1 million dollars to the Rising Star Outreach (RSO) serving patients and families with Leprosy in India. RSO, working with other non-governmental organizations (NGO) and charities is currently serving 176 communities with leprosy patients in India.
India was particularly hard hit with Covid. Providing ‘wound care kits’ with needed medical supplies, hygiene items, face masks as well as basic food supplies for hard hit leprosy patients unable to make a living during the Covid lockdowns was part of the mission that the Grand Priory of America helped to deliver.
In addition to helping leprosy patients in India, the Grand Priory of America has helped the leprosy community on the island of Molokai here Father (Saint.) Damian ministered to infected outcasts from 1873 to 1899 until he died of the disease.
The Grand Priory of America with the generous assistance of our Delegation of Mexico, has also granted over $1 million dollars for two Leprosy communities in Mexico, (Irapuato and Morelia) providing support for the local nuns, trained as nurses, who provide direct wound care, medical supplies, medications, food and hygiene programs to local residents and their families.
The Order was also able to provide critically needed medicines to these communities at no cost, thus reducing pain and suffering and bringing hope and comfort to so many including a leprosy community in Carville, Louisiana.
Something to think about. Some of the people sent to Kalaupapa, on Molokai were misdiagnosed. They did not have leprosy but were forced into exile. As time went on, some returned to their homes and families. Sometimes, a patient became so comfortable with life in Kalaupapa that returning to a former life was not a welcome option. Today this situation is repeated as people worldwide are misdiagnosed. This can have a devastating psychological effect on a person, bringing alienation and minimizing of self worth. It is important for those who can to work toward getting medical care and medication to those who need it .
Credits to RADM Michael R. Milner, KCLJ, OMLJ, DHSc,
PA-C Grand Prioral Hospitaller and
Father William D. Razz Waff, GCLJ, DMin, BCC
Major General, US Army (Retired) Chaplain General
Thanks also to Steve Brock KJL Cadre of Hawaii.
For more information about helping the Kalaupapa Care Home on Molokai, contact
Sister Damien Lau or Sister Barbara Jean Wajda, osf
15 Bishop Home #129
Kalaupapa, HI 96742-0129