Support medical help for leprosy patients in Hyderabad

The annual fundraiser for Hopewallah, a tax exempt charity organization helping the lepers of Hyderabad, India. is at 6 pm on Saturday, May 6 *, in the Parish Hall at St. Christopher, Fort Worth.

This popular event has raised thousands of dollars for this medical mission led by Dr. Andy and Latha Babbili, members of St. Christopher; Dr. Babbili travels to India every year to provide treatment to members of leper colonies around Hyderabad. The Bishop Prabhudass Memorial Leprosy fundraising event will include a catered Indian dinner and a gospel sing by the Babbili family. Bishop Prabhudass Babbili is Dr. Babbili’s father.

Please pray and help this charity project which delivers medical, dental, psycho-social care by supplying medications, clothing, foot wear, walking canes, walkers, and wheelchairs to the distraught, helpless individuals and families scattered in and around Hyderabad, India.

— Dr. Andy Babbili

A member of the medical team examines a foot injury.

Attending a church service

Giving a thyroid exam

A church offers its space for Dr. Babbili to host a clinic.

Purchase a ticket or donate online.

Tickets are $20 each. Contact St. Christopher at 817-926-8277 or office@stchrisfw.org for more information about ticket purchases.

All the funds raised will benefit the lepers in and around Hyderabad, India.

About Leprosy in India

Leprosy attacks nerve endings, destroying the ability to feel pain and injury, making patients susceptible to ulcers and infections. Over time and without proper treatment, this can lead to the loss of fingers, hands, toes and feet. It can also cause blindness, facial disfigurement and “clawing” of hands and feet. Read more at Hopewallah’s website.

People have long feared leprosy as being highly contagious, although in reality, 95% of humans are naturally immune. Health workers call it the world’s “least contagious communicable disease.” It is easily treated with highly effective drugs available for free under collaboration between WHO and a pharmaceutical company.

The stigma remains, however, causing those who have been cured and are no longer contagious to be shunned by society and forced to live as outcasts, often in great poverty. The Bishop Prabhudass Hyderabad Leprosy Mission cares for a significant number of them.

Dr. Babbili said, “Worldwide 250,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, out of which 60-70% are in India. The rest are mostly in Philippines, Malaysia, Africa, and South America, and 100-200 new cases here in USA, mostly imported via new immigrants coming in from the above named countries and areas. India has 50% of the world’s leper population, and we are eagerly awaiting serving some in and around Hyderabad.”

In India 130,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy every year – more than every other country put together. Surprisingly, India announced it had eliminated leprosy in 2005. It was able to do so because countries can announce ‘elimination’ when there is less than one case for every 10,000 people, according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. But this has meant that government funding previously dedicated to leprosy has been put back into the general health system. Donations to charities working with those suffering from leprosy have fallen significantly, making the work of charities such as the Bishop Prabhudass Hyderabad Leprosy Mission more important than ever.

*Previously, the date was listed incorrectly as May 13. The correct date is May 6.