Self Care Training
Empowering for life
A chief aim of NLT is to empower those affected by leprosy. We want people to become independent again, to re-enter society and to function effectively within it, equipped with new skills and regained dignity.
The Self-Care Training Centre at Lalgadh provides a two week residential training course to equip individuals practically and psychologically to participate in family and community life again. It is designed to reproduce everyday living and working conditions, allowing trainees to learn together how to take care of their anaesthetic hands, feet and eyes, while tackling the practical problems of everyday life, in a non-medical environment.
Since it was established in the late 1990s over 10,000 people, all disabled by leprosy, have received the two week training. Studies to see whether this training has helped reduce the recurrence of ulcers, and the deterioration of leprosy affected limbs, have shown that it does work!
Self-care techniques
The course includes exercises to strengthen leg muscles that have been weakened by leprosy, causing drop-foot. Trainees are also taught techniques for soaking, scraping and oiling their anaesthetic feet to keep the tissue supple and soft to avoid cracking and subsequent ulceration.
Exercises like these also give opportunity to check limbs for damage. If these people can learn to prevent ulcers, they have a much better chance of being accepted by their communities
Self-care training teaches people how to:
- check that their anaesthesia is not worsening;
- protect their anaesthetic hands and feet while cooking, walking and using tools;
- regularly check for damage and start healing care;
- care for skin that has lost the capacity to sweat;
- use special footwear to reduce the risk of damage to vulnerable feet;
- have a mindset that can use these coping skills effectively in daily life;
- work in groups for mutual encouragement;
- see a future that has hope for a “life worth living”.
Encouraging outcomes
Previous experience and evaluation of self-care training has shown that it has a significant impact on preventing deterioration of disabilities caused by leprosy. Trainees are able to identify and react to problems much more quickly.
Communities also become more supportive as they understand that encouraging good self-care prevents unpleasant ulcers. This enables people affected by leprosy to function better as useful community and family members.
It is also clear that effective self-care reduces the need for further hospital admissions and helps individuals to stay healthy and independent, despite their disabilities.
Previous trainees have gone on to become self-help group leaders and important initiators of change in their communities. This project is producing potentially influential people, as well as helping people disabled by leprosy to rebuild their lives.
Empowering for life
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