Response from The Leprosy Mission PNG

WE thank you for the publicised comment on the leprosy issue by the concerned patient in The National on July 29.
In response, I am writing to explain further about the project, so that the concerned patient and others can understand what the project is aiming to achieve.
The Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project (SLDP) is a 5-year livelihoods and health project under The Leprosy Mission (TLM) PNG which began in 2017.
The SLDP is supported by the New Zealand (NZ) government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Leprosy Mission NZ.
There are two parts to the project:
l The health component assists people with leprosy to get treatment for leprosy in respective government clinics. It collaborates with the on-going training of health workers in the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy, along with community-based health awareness raising; and,
l The SLD component aims to address the issues of poverty, and the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood for people affected by leprosy. The project assists people affected with leprosy and disability to develop an IGA, as leprosy and disability limit livelihoods opportunities. This is done by training in financial literacy, savings and budgeting, and in learning and developing livelihoods of their choice, along with access to small loans. This will enable greater involvement in markets; increasing paid employment; creation/expansion of businesses; and increasing participation of young people and women affected by leprosy in economic activity. This will then assist them to buy nutritious food, pay for transport to the nearest clinic for health care, educate their children, save up funds, get a loan if they wish to, and even buy their own water tank or build their own toilet.
As mentioned above, participants in the project are encouraged to start a savings culture, and Women’s Micro Bank (WMB) – unlike other larger banks – is willing to work with TLM PNG to create an accessible small loan system (with loans starting at K300), for those at the “grassroots”.
This has created the opportunity for people affected by leprosy and disabilities to open bank accounts and access loans like any other person in PNG. This was not previously possible.
The savings and loans system is managed by the WMB and the loan repayment is paid to the WMB following their requirements.
The little seed fund given to WMB, is to properly manage, monitor and revolve loans to the maximum leprosy-affected participants.
This will give opportunity to all leprosy affected participants to venture into the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and build their savings and credit culture, to take part in SME loans with WMB directly in future. None of the seed fund or any interest charged for the loans management will be returned to TLM PNG.
The seed fund will remain with WMB even beyond the life of the project, enabling people affected by leprosy to continue to maintain a savings culture and access loans into the future.
TLM PNG believes in empowering communities so that they can be in charge of their own development. TLM believes in the abilities of people with leprosy and disability, and that with support from their immediate families and the community, they are capable to meet any daily life challenge. People affected by leprosy and disability deserve dignity and equal access and opportunities to resources.
TLM PNG and WMB are both credible organisations that exist to help the marginalised. TLM PNG’s vision is to defeat leprosy and transform lives.
WMB’s aim is to support TLM PNG’s vision by creating savings culture among participants and supporting MSME for their livelihood promotion. It does not in any way use project funds for its own interest.

Natalie Smith
Country leader – The Leprosy
Mission PNG