Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. If left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Infection results in tissue loss, so fingers and toes become shortened and deformed as the cartilage is absorbed into the body.
If caught early enough, Leprosy can be stopped before it ravages a body. SCF sponsored a leprosy screening program for at-risk school children. In its first two years of operation, this program has screened over 300,000 school children and cured 347 cases of childhood leprosy.