BLP wins award

Our partner's good news is our good news.
In this case it's the Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) we are talking about. As you know, BLP's work is not just about treating leprosy patients, but also about rehabilitating people with training and job opportunities.
It has established a tradition of offering such opportunities even to patients who are handicapped by diseases other than leprosy, such as polio, cerebral palsy, hearing defects, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis. One example, in particular, is Rahul Gupta, a patient affected by multiple sclerosis (a nervous disorder), who has been working as a computer assistant with BLP for the past five years.

Honouring BLP for its efforts with Gupta, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) presented the organisation with a Best Employer 2010 Award at a function to observe MSSI's silver jubilee on May 26.

Here you can see (from left) Dr R Ganapati, Director Emeritus of BLP, Gupta (the patient), Subhash Hoval, manager, and BK Rao, administrative officer with BLP, displaying the award.

Congrats to BLP for the award and the amazing work they do. We are proud to be a supporter :)

Rashmi Pai, a mediator for all

Meet Rashmi Pai, a dedicated worker at the Bombay Leprosy Project's clinic in Sion. She has been working with BLP for 33 years and shows no sign of slowing down.

Rashmi first got to know about leprosy in school, when she remembers seeing some slideshows. She had also heard about social worker Baba Amte and his work in rehabilitating and empowering leprosy patients. Always harbouring an interest in helping other people, Rashmi decided to join BLP.

Rashmi's is a familiar face to Mumbai Smiles visitors as she is the one who educates them about leprosy and its treatment.

Her responsibilities with BLP include programming and planning their projects, monitoring patients, supervising admissions and other patient services. She is the all-important mediator between the various arms of BLP.

Rashmi is 58 years old and has one son. Such is her commitment that she travels every day from Borivali to Sion, a journey of several hours. The world needs more people like her.

The healing process

At The Bombay Leprosy Project's clinic in Sion, rehabilitation of leprosy patients is a big part of the whole treatment process. All patients are told to come back for regular checks and follow-up treatment.



The doctors also monitor each patient's progress in different ways. For instance, this patient wears special shoes meant for leprosy patients. As you know by now, leprosy patients often end up with deformed hands and and feet, but with regular and correct treatment, they can actually regain use of their feet.


Wearing these shoes improves the condition of a leprosy patient's feet and over time it is possible for them to grow bigger again.


It is with the patience and perseverence of the BLP's wonderful doctors that more and more people are being rehabilitated.

Where leprosy patients can find help

Today we'll tell you a little bit more about the Bombay Leprosy Project's main clinic and referral centre in Sion. Located in south-central Mumbai, this is the place hundreds of people -- from all over the city and even villages outside -- come to for help.


The dedicated staff at the centre treats patients with leprosy and other skin problems.



They do skin smear exams, checks for neuritis, evaluate nerve functions periodically, and provide counselling and suitable aids. The centre also guides and gives referrals to patients who need specialised care. We are glad to say that a lot of this possible largely because of our support.



The BLP's great work continues and we are helping them streamline their services and treatment so that, together, we can help more people lead a better life.

Life beyond leprosy

Every day at Mumbai Smiles, you meet amazing people and get a chance to hear their stories.
This is Mahendra Shinde, who runs the clinic at the Bombay Leprosy Project's (BLP) main office in Sion. Mahendra is 44 years old, and is married with two kids. He is a warm, kind person whose happy countenance doesn't reveal anything about his difficult past.


Mahendra was diagnosed with leprosy way back in 1979 and began treatment with the Bombay Leprosy Project in 1983. It was not easy and Mahendra lost a leg to the disease. However, in 1987, he got a chance to work with BLP and has been with the organisation ever since.


Today, Mahendra is completely rehabilitated and cured of leprosy. He is able to walk with a Jaipur foot, and though his fingers are deformed, he can do all the office work and even use the computer. He is also the proud recipient of two 'Best Worker' awards.


Mahendra, you are an inspiration to us all...

Photo credit: Mumbai Smiles

Our projects: Bombay Leprosy Project

For the past three years, we have been working with the Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP). BLP was started in 1976 to help provide leprosy patients with treatment, spread awareness and to give them a good life.

Mumbai Smiles joined their fight in 2007, helping BLP revive several programmes that it had shut down because of lack of funds.



We helped the good folks at BLP to improve and expand their main clinic in Sion, a locality in Central Mumbai, and provide medical supplies and equipment. In 2009, a new centre was opened in Borivali, a suburb in North Mumbai, which means our efforts can reach out to more people. Several paramedics have been trained to carry out the work.



We have also been working closely with BLP for the rehabilitation of leprosy patients, and have helped 17 of them find employment. To date, our programme has helped thousands of people.