Working with the Calcutta Municipal Corporation under NLEP (National Leprosy Eradication Programme), Calcutta Rescue provides treatment to 15 – 20 leprosy patients every day, mainly long- term sufferers from leprosy and its ongoing effects. In addition, former sufferers, now cured, continue to use our services - our patient records list over 300 former patients but happily many are not now regular attendees. Our leprosy programme has a staff of 6 - a doctor, a wound nurse, a physiotherapist, an assistant pharmacist, food and non-medical services distributor and the Clinic coordinator.

Services provided by our leprosy programme are:

• Diagnosis and treatment of Hansen’s disease (leprosy) based on the Survey Education and Treatment method (SET).
• Provision of multi drug therapy along WHO guidelines to patients unable to access government treatment centres.
• Provision of physiotherapy and instruction from a trained physiotherapist as to how to exercise constructively outside the Clinic classes.
• Provision of health education to inform patients how leprosy can be cured if medicine (MDT - multi drug treatment) is taken regularly, as well as how to reduce the risk of disability.
• Provision of social support.
• Foot washing and wound dressings by a trained podiatrist/wound nurse for ulcers and wounds (mainly to their feet and legs as leprosy damaged nerves reduce sensitivity; wounds, therefore, cause no pain and as a result are often ignored allowing infection to set in) and provision of dressings and instruction so that dressing can be done by patient/family in the home.
• Referral for reconstructive surgery through other service providers.
• The supply of crutches and wheelchairs.
• Referral to Maniktala Leprosy Mission Hospital (NGO) for treatment when wounds are not healing and specialist treatment (e.g. skin grafting) is needed.
• Provision of specialist orthopaedic footwear made of micro-cellular rubber to give patients cushioned protection, made on site by our staff cobbler.
• Food and non-medical services including plastic sheeting, clothing and transport allowances are distributed to patients according to their income, medical status and nutritional needs