Leprosy survivors open savings bank accounts

More than 20 people affected by leprosy opened bank accounts with Women’s Micro Bank (WMB) in Port Moresby last month.
This followed the signing of a memorandum-of-agreement between PNG Leprosy Mission (PNGLM) and WMB a month earlier.
The agreement gave the opportunity for those affected by a curable disease to participate in micro-enterprise projects.
PNGLM is in the second year of implementing its sustainable livelihoods development (SLD) project, supported by the New Zealand aid programme, which includes a micro-credit component.
Over the years, PNGLM has played a key role in supporting the Ministry of Health to manage leprosy in the country.
In 2017, their focus changed to a development approach.
Through its SLD project, the mission wants to give leprosy-affected communities the opportunity to increase their income levels and be included in the current financial inclusion plan for the region.
Learning how to keep savings is one of the main thrusts of the project.
Many people in PNG, including those affected by leprosy, do not save money and therefore have difficulties accessing medical care, education and transport services.
This project wants to help change this by encouraging more people to participate in income-generating activities and in saving some money in a bank.
Through this partnership with the WMB, leprosy-affected families will be able to save money in addition to having access to credit if they wish to start or upgrade their income-generating activities.
The seed-fund credit that will be managed by WMB is a joint New Zealand Aid programme and PNGLM development initiative.
“This new venture is one of the first of its kind in PNG, which is enabling small-business owners who have leprosy and disability to access micro-finance loans like any other small-business owner in PNG,” Leprosy Mission country leader Nathalie Smith said.
WMB’s vision is to reach out to more informal sector and make access to credit for them.
It will provide micro-credit and micro-savings related training
PNGLM will continue to mentor participants in this project to access credits from this programme.
“Savings should be the first expenditure of income, not the last, and imbibing savings culture is the pillar of success for informal entrepreneurs,” WMB general-manager Gunanidhi Das said.