Christopher Klettermayer Photography

Reportage I: Leprosy Center; Karachi II

The Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center

The Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center (MALC) has been fighting Leprosy in Pakistan for over 50 years.

Under the supervision of Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Dr. Ruth Pfau, a german nun, this institution has set up offices all over Pakistan and has successfully rescued, treated, and resocialised leprosy patients.

As a treatable, yet deadly disease, leprosy victims come from extreme poverty and suffer not only from discrimination, but if not treated, fatal consequences.

This institution has done extensive work on the subject, has successfully fought the disease and has turned it from a common sight to a rare occasion in most parts of Pakistan.

Despite leprosy being treatable, its victims suffer from discrimination and life-long disfigurement; Dr. Pfau has lessened the fear of the disease less throughout the country as well as intigrated many victims back into society.

A patient drinking chai.
   
A female patient being examined by Dr. Pfau.
   
A patient severely affected; blindness.
     
  
The room of a deceased patient.
   
A patient undergoing treatment.
   
A heavily affected patient eating lunch.
     
  
A female patient sleeping.
   
A patient waiting for treatment.
   
A wheelchair in the hall of the male ward.
     
  
A patient reading.
   
A patient preparing celebrations for the 50 year anniversary of the clinic.
   
Patient charts.
     
  
A patient removing his prosthetic leg for examination.
   
Patients socialising
   
A blind patient waiting for the daily check up.
     
  
A patient listening to music.
   
A female patient during her check up.
   
A patient passing time by looking out onto the streets of Karachi.
     
  
A patient waiting for his daily check up.
   
A man waiting in the halls of the male ward.
   
A patient infront of the clinic.
     
  
Patients passing their time with board games.
   
A man observing the 50 year celebration preperations.
   
A patient holding a speech before the 50 year anniversary.
     
  
A patient preparing balloons for the 50 year anniversary of the clinic.