Threat Amid Ignorance

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Suwarti, 49, whose legs were amputated because of leprosy during adolescence, has to do extra work to support her family because her husband cannot work anymore because of diabetes. Her prosthetic feet have been out of order for the past two months and can longer be worn. She has been forced to borrow a neighbor\'s prosthetic limbs to carry out her daily activities.

In the beginning, people in Somnak and Daikot hamlets, Joutu district, Asmat regency, Papua, saw their numb and blistery skin, painful joints, stiff fingers and paralyzed limbs as something usual. Many people experienced these symptoms.

Most people infected with leprosy in Daikot and Somnak are children, many of whom have deformed limbs. A 12-year-old child from Somnak hamlet, who had just been diagnosed with leprosy, said he had no idea how dangerous the disease is. He said that he often complained about painful joints and numb and whitening back.