Agenzia Fides

Vienna (Fides Service) - For over 25 years the organization for the fight against leprosy (Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk) of the national direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Austria (Missio Austria) is organizing a fundraising and a medicine collection campaign to help disadvantaged people in the poorest regions of the world, providing support for projects also long-term projects.
In 2010, 72 projects were promoted to combat leprosy and health system development. In addition to donations for a total of 1.5 million, medicines and medical equipment worth a total of 8.2 million were sent. Doctors, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and clinics in Austria, during the fund-raising campaign, provide first aid kits, sterile gloves, disposable syringes and various other equipment.
During July and August medicines are sorted and packaged in order to be sent on the basis of the requests. So far this year 3,200 boxes have been prepared to be sent to 29 missionary hospitals in Africa, Asia and Latin America. There are approximately 4.5 million patients who will benefit from this aid.
"For many of our patients the fact that there are people in Austria who do not forget them and do not leave them alone means to be half way on the road to recovery. We are grateful that Missio Austria with its organization in the fight against leprosy for many years has 'amplified' our voice ' ", writes Sister Mary Frederik from Tanzania.
Although leprosy is now officially considered "under control" every year 250,000 new infections worldwide are recorded. The projects currently supported by Missio Austria are mainly intended to overcome the discrimination experienced by patients in the past, integrating the therapies in the ordinary health system. (MS) (Agenzia Fides 05/08/2011)