After giving birth to my daughter, I began to develop painful blisters on my feet. I visited a private doctor, who misdiagnosed me and prescribed me injections for a disease I did not have. There was no improvement, after months of these injections, so I went to a local hospital. There, they diagnosed me with leprosy and sent me to the Lepra Referral Centre.

I was given Multi Drug Therapy for 12 months and underwent strenuous counselling for both my disease and the impact it had on my personal life. My husband is very abusive and has serious issues with alcohol. He abandoned me shortly after I was diagnosed, but still returns occasionally to steal money from me.

I try to practise self-care every day and the sensations in my hands and feet have slowly improved. I have suffered severe reactions though, and this is a constant struggle. The surgery to fix the skin lesions inside my mouth is expensive and I cannot afford it. I cannot ask for help because only my sister in law knows that I have leprosy.

There is no one I can share my story with; no way I can lessen my burden. I have to live for my children’s sake, but I feel very depressed and alone.