Defending Leprosy Patients
In July, Ira and Katamataku launched a social service activity for leprosy treatment in St. Damian Lewoleba Hospital, Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), treating 265 leprosy patients.
Yunia Irawati
Indonesia still ranks third among countries with the largest number of leprosy patients in the world after India and Brazil. The stigma attached to people suffering from leprosy also remains prevalent. Yunia Irawati has been striving to overcome this condition by initiating a movement, Katamataku.
Through Katamataku, Yunia “Ira” Irawati, a doctor sub specializing in plastic reconstruction, has invited her fellow lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, to join the movement aimed at preventing leprosy, healing leprosy patients and clearing the stigma. Ira sought the participation of lecturers from other faculties like psychology, public health, agriculture and animal husbandry.