Catholic doctor Benjamin Jewel Rozario in battle against leprosy

Medical director of the TLMI-Bangladesh Institute, Rozario has dedicated his life to leprosy patients for 12 years, inspired by the example of Jesus. Despite progress, the disease is still surrounded by stigma and superstition. Celebrating World Leprosy Day on 26 January, Bangladesh aims to eliminate leprosy by 2030.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - ‘I could have chosen a different path, like many other doctors, to earn more money,’ Dr Benjamin Jewel Rozario, National Health Care Officer at Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh (TLMI-Bangladesh), tells AsiaNews. ‘But I decided to take care of people suffering from leprosy, showing them God's love through my service. Jesus also healed those suffering from leprosy and I feel called to follow in his footsteps’.

Rozario, 44, a parishioner of Golla Church in Dhaka, has dedicated his life to serving leprosy patients for 12 years. This commitment, he says, has brought him many blessings: ‘When I started this work, someone told me: ’Your medical career is over. You will not earn much'. But I have received many blessings through this mission. I realised how helpless and neglected these people are’.

On 26 January, Bangladesh will celebrate World Leprosy Day, established by French humanist Raoul Follereau, one of the founders of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations. The occasion, which falls on the third Sunday after Epiphany, commemorates the miracle of Jesus healing a leper, as recounted in the Gospels.

The TLMI operates in 40 of Bangladesh's 64 districts and diagnosed 3,519 new cases of leprosy in 2024. Despite advances in the management of the disease, leprosy remains surrounded by stigma and superstition. Many still believe it is a divine curse, fuelling discrimination and isolation.

An example of the challenges faced by TLMI is the case of Mohammad Rahman, a young man who was excluded from school due to fear of contagion. The teachers had no problem with Mohammad's presence at school, but the parents of the other pupils did. The TLMI intervened by educating the local community, allowing Mohammad to continue his studies'.

Rozario admitted that working with leprosy patients entails sacrifices: ‘I can only serve in this institution because leprosy patients rarely have the resources to care elsewhere. They are among the poorest of the poor. However, I stay because I find a purpose and happiness in this work. By serving them, I live my Christian values’.

The most vulnerable to leprosy are low-income workers such as rickshaw drivers and farmers. But the future offers hope: ‘Research is underway to develop a vaccine against leprosy. Once discovered, we will be able to control the disease more effectively'.

One of the biggest challenges in this field, Dr Rozario noted, is the lack of interest from other doctors. ‘Leprosy care offers no financial incentives, which discourages many doctors. But I stay because I hear the stories of these patients: a healthy person's life can change drastically because of this disease. I perform surgery to restore disabled limbs, helping them to regain a sense of normalcy’.

TLMI is dedicated to the elimination of leprosy by 2030, in line with national targets. The organisation provides diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and psychosocial support. Through social inclusion and advocacy projects, it combats stigma and promotes sustainable development.

With over 70 scientific publications and innovative research, TLMI-Bangladesh continues to influence the global management of leprosy and support the most marginalised communities. As Dr Rozario points out: ‘Our work is not just about medical care, but about dignity and hope for those who have been forgotten by society’.

• Bangladesh
• leprosy
• 26 January
• Benjamin Jewel Rozario