CHENNAI: Working for over four decades in the field of leprosy rehabilitation, Padma Shri Dr PK Gopal, Social activist for leprosy, has seen his fair share of discrimination. Talking to City Express, he shares his experience of living and surving society’s stigma towards the disease.
“I developed leprosy at the age of 12. At that time, there was no definite cure for the disease. It took seven years to properly diagnose that I had contracted leprosy. While taking treatment at the Government Leprosy Unit, doctors were fairly new to the drugs, and did not know the correct dosage.
I had many problems. In spite of this, my family was very supportive. It was the discrimination from others that I found hard to face.
When I was pursuing my post graduation in Loyola College, I had to travel by bus. By this time, I was completely cured. I had no deformities. Even so, people would not sit next to me. This affected me a lot.
It was the Jesuit fathers in college who guided me to the field of rehabilitation. They felt the need for someone with my experience to speak on behalf of the community.
Now, I have been invited by the Government of India to help plan strategies to end stigma and discrimination. The point is that people still think it is a dreadful disease. Even though they know about the drugs and treatment, they continue to discriminate. This mindset and attitude of people have to change.”
He further said, "People with leprosy still lead a marginalised existence. They have problems getting integrated back into society as they are shunned. Their children also face the same problems. The Indian government is working on implementing the UN Resolution to end discrimination against people with leprosy.”