Yerraballi Jagannadham and Kamalamma are residents of Miryalagudem Mandal, Nalgonda District, Telangana.
During Jagannadham’s early marriage days, he started observing the patches on the skin and the local (village) key influential people passed a resolution and separated the couple. With the disease progression, he later developed a claw foot. The local doctor took him to the Leprosy Health Care (LHC) Centre in Nalgonda district and admitted him as an in-patient member, where he received treatment. The LHC centre superintendent rehabilitated Jagannadham by appointing him as a Dhobi (washer-man) in the Leprosy ward.
He met a woman named Kamalamma at the health centre who was abandoned by her husband and parents. By that time, Kamalamma was married and the mother of a girl child. After she was confirmed with Leprosy, she faced discrimination, and no family/community member supported her and was finally avoided by her parents. Kamalamma faced many difficulties where she could not have even two meals a day. She did not get any work and as she is from a middle-class family, she could not go for begging. She joined in LHC for treatment in a pathetic situation with deformities (ulcer and claw Foot). This is when Jagannadham and Kamalamma liked each other and got married. Now, they are happy with 2 male children.
Presently, they are living in St. Ann’s home. In the initial stages, they were not aware of the care to be taken for their hands, feet and eyes. LEPRA team identified the couple and educated them on self-care practices. They were provided with need based self-care material and efforts were being made for treating the ulcer for Kamalamma. They were provided with customised footwear and information on health care aspects. Also, the referrals were made to the local government institutions for getting ration and disability pension to them. St. Ann’s sisters provide them provisions on a weekly basis and shelter at their home.
Though the families abandoned Kamalamma and Jagannadham, Leprosy made them understand each other and start a new life journey that they are happily leading.