When it comes to Christians, news from Pakistan in recent years has seldom been good. An increasingly beleaguered minority in an Islamic republic, they have become targets of harassment and violent attacks, often motivated by tensions and conflicts between Islamists and the West on the world stage. This week, however, brings a notable exception. On Read more
The government of Pakistan will hold a state funeral on 19 August for “Pakistan’s Mother Teresa” – a German nun who devoted her life to eradicating Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Sister Ruth Katharina Martha Pfau, who was a member of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary died last week at the age of 87. Pakistani Read more
A resurgence in the number of cases of leprosy throughout the Pacific has experts saying the disease is far from eradicated there. The number of new cases has been growing during the past four years. Recently there has been an outbreak of leprosy affecting 24 people living in displaced people’s centres in Honiara. Over the Read more
Outside a lepers’ colony in Navi Mumbai, India, is a small chapel. Painted in both Hindi and English on the outside of the chapel, it reads: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples”. The chapel welcomes people of all faiths, and is visited by lepers who have been rejected from Read more
On Sunday Blessed Marianne Cope was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI at a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica. St Marianne died in 1918 of kidney and heart disease at age 80. She dedicated 30 years of her life, from 1888 to 1918, helping Hawaiian-born patients suffering with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) who were exiled to the Kalaupapa peninsula Read more
Solomon Islands has reached the World Health Organisation’s target for the elimination of leprosy. However, Director for TB and Leprosy, Doctor Edwin Daiwo, says there are still some hot spots of the disease in parts of the country. Listen to Radio Australia
In recent times two films, Another Earth and Melancholia, have given sensitive treatment to the subjects of depression and suicide. As well, Nothing Prepared Me For This, has been published. It is a book that brings together the writings of a number of relations and friends of people who have committed suicide. In a recent Read more
Fiji’s P J Twomey Hospital celebrated 100 year of existence on Tuesday. The hospital which was originally built on Makogai Island in the Lomaiviti Group has been the destination for the treatment of leprosy since 1911. Two new leprosy wards, the Karuru Ward and the Mother Mary Agnes Ward were opened as part of the Read more