Tohmina
Tohmina is 45. She developed leprosy aged 6 with patches on her face and back. She developed blisters and then ulcers on her feet. Her father tried many medicines with no improvement. A man visiting her home suspected leprosy. Her father took her an NGO health centre where leprosy was diagnosed. Her father then had a mental breakdown over her diagnosis. Her elder brother rejected her from their home saying that she could not stay in the house if she had leprosy. Her father took her to Nilphamari hospital. She took medicine from there and was cured but her ulcers recurred. She married a fellow patient in Nilphamari hospital. The hospital authorities supported their marriage and gave them some money. They went to her family home and her brother rejected her again saying that she could not stay there, and threatened to kill her husband. They came to Mahasthan Gar, Bogura. They rent homes with people but are continually being evicted. Her husband has disabilities and works in a shop. They have just been granted one of the government sponsored houses for people affected by leprosy. It will be a huge help for them. She has one son, Toufik, who is in class 6, but they struggle to pay school fees. He dresses his mothers wounds.
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The physical problems are the biggest challenge for her.
“My message to all is that this disease is not an infectious disease, so don’t push the patients away. If someone is in pain please don’t hurt them again.”
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She and her husband are grateful to Mr Polu, the Lepra officer who has helped them get a new home. She had just received the documents for her new house in April 2023.
09/04/2023 Bogura region, Bangladesh
Photography by Tom Bradley, writing by Prof Diana Lockwood