Speaker Stuart McAra 31st May

Fri, May 31st 2019 at 12:55 pm - 2:00 pm

Topic:- Leprosy Mission Scotland


Rotary club of Stirling meeting of 31st May.


President Sandy Farquharson opened the meeting by welcoming two visitors, our speaker Stuart McAra from the Leprosy Mission Scotland, and PP Mary Davies paying a welcome visit back to the club.  Alan Rankin reported on last week’s AM/AM which was well supported with19 teams, some new to the club. Helped by glorious weather, it was a very successful event raising £1750 for local charities.

Our speaker was Stuart McAra from leprosy Mission Scotland a charity based in Stirling but operating in several countries word wide.  Leprosy tends to be a forgotten disease in the West, but remains a major problem with 250,000 new patients every year, plus thousands living with long term disability. A slow developing bacterial infection related to TB, it should not be a problem as it is curable and not expensive to treat.
Unfortunately, it is often not diagnosed and treated early, due to poor medical services and fear of the disease within the community, resulting in thousands living with the disability arising from delay in treatment, unemployable and in poverty. Once treated patients are not infectious but are often left excluded and isolated. Stuart spoke about Nepal where there are 3200 new cases each year, highlighting two hospitals and two patients. Ramu age 29, a musician unable to earn a living playing due to severe clawing of both hands, now helped to some extent by corrective surgery, but still needing further operations.  

Anandaban developed symptoms age 4 but did not receive a diagnosis until age 11, resulting in partial amputation of both legs. His life was one of despair, but a visit from a Paralympian from the West who had also had a limb amputated lifted his spirits, and he has now received a prosthesis, basic by our standard but making a huge difference to him.  Stuart's excellent talk was of particular interest to the club as President Sandy's charity bike ride in Nepal last year drew his attention to Leprosy and it is hoped will be the object of a Rotary project in the near future.

Next week 7th June will be a fellowship meeting, visitor's host Martin Ross.

Ian Richardson

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