Karunalaya Leprosy Care Centre
'Leprosy Patients Our Friends'
Fr. Marian started the Leprosy Care Centre in 1976 following an appeal of the then district Magistrate and Collector of Puri. The words of Jesus "in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me" gave him the energy and commitment for this mission.
Karunalaya is home for about 1,000 people (225 Families) affected by leprosy. The people are those who, because of leprosy, were rejected by their own families and/or society. Some left their families voluntarily because they were afraid the whole family would otherwise be thrown out and rejected by the local community.
Karunalaya aims at restoring their confidence and dignity and enables them to be apart of normal human society.
Karunalaya Leprosy Care Centre is organised and managed by the Divine Word Missionaries in collaboration with Government and well wishers of leprosy affected people. It is a charitable and educational organisation registered under Section 6 (1) (a) of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 with its own registration number. Funds are gathered mostly from individual donations.
Fr. Marian started the Leprosy Care Centre in 1976 following an appeal of the then district Magistrate and Collector of Puri. The words of Jesus "in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me" gave him the energy and commitment for this mission.
Karunalaya is home for about 1,000 people (225 Families) affected by leprosy. The people are those who, because of leprosy, were rejected by their own families and/or society. Some left their families voluntarily because they were afraid the whole family would otherwise be thrown out and rejected by the local community.
Karunalaya aims at restoring their confidence and dignity and enables them to be apart of normal human society.
Karunalaya Leprosy Care Centre is organised and managed by the Divine Word Missionaries in collaboration with Government and well wishers of leprosy affected people. It is a charitable and educational organisation registered under Section 6 (1) (a) of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 with its own registration number. Funds are gathered mostly from individual donations.
Health Care Facilities and Programs
From the humble beginnings of a 'Mobile Clinic' the present health facilities now include:
-Hospital with OPD and OT with 22 beds
-Medical dispensary
-Laboratory for pathological tests
-Facilities for various therapies
-Bandaging and dressing unit
-Dental Clinic
-Orthopaedic shoe/sandal manufacturing unit
The staff of the centre includes seven full time paramedics, a leprologist, a sister nurse and a sister who attend to the general needs of the patients through regular visits.
-Hospital with OPD and OT with 22 beds
-Medical dispensary
-Laboratory for pathological tests
-Facilities for various therapies
-Bandaging and dressing unit
-Dental Clinic
-Orthopaedic shoe/sandal manufacturing unit
The staff of the centre includes seven full time paramedics, a leprologist, a sister nurse and a sister who attend to the general needs of the patients through regular visits.
Housing and Mercy Kitchen
Karunalaya has built about 65 houses for the people and has helped 70 families to build theirs. About 95 families have very poor thatched roof houses and we seek to assist them to build 'rat free' houses. At present some assistance is given to maintain their huts.
Mercy Kitchen provides meals three times daily for about 80 people who are not able to earn their living by any means, not even by begging (their traditional profession). The cost of meals for one person per month is about Rs.1,000 which is approximately less than US$20.
Mercy Kitchen provides meals three times daily for about 80 people who are not able to earn their living by any means, not even by begging (their traditional profession). The cost of meals for one person per month is about Rs.1,000 which is approximately less than US$20.
Therapeutic and Economic Rehabilitation
We run selected programs to promote employment, quality of life and upskilling to the people affected by Leprosy and primarily include;
Cottage Industries:
-Manufacturing of products from Jute and Coir
-Spinning and weaving units
-Tailoring school and production unit for making dresses, handicrafts, bandages for hospital etc
-Poultry farm
-Agricultural farm with vegetables and coconut tress
-Fish cultivation
Care of Children:
-A glass of hot milk is served to every child under the age of three, the cost of this program is approx Rs.14,000 per month
-The school going children are given bread and eggs to encourage attendance, the cost of this program is approx Rs.1,000 per day
-Books and other study materials, school uniform and assistance is offered to the school going children
Cottage Industries:
-Manufacturing of products from Jute and Coir
-Spinning and weaving units
-Tailoring school and production unit for making dresses, handicrafts, bandages for hospital etc
-Poultry farm
-Agricultural farm with vegetables and coconut tress
-Fish cultivation
Care of Children:
-A glass of hot milk is served to every child under the age of three, the cost of this program is approx Rs.14,000 per month
-The school going children are given bread and eggs to encourage attendance, the cost of this program is approx Rs.1,000 per day
-Books and other study materials, school uniform and assistance is offered to the school going children