PROGRAM HABITAT KUSTA HEBAT (LEPROSY)

Program Habitat Kusta Hebat

Habitat Kusta Hebat (HKH) is a dream for a decent and independent life in people with leprosy. The dream is not likely to be realized if it does not start with a great imagination.

Starting with a concern, dr.Muherman Harun was inspired to raise the dignity of people affected by leprosy who for centuries lived in poverty, marginalized, and got a lot of negative stigma.

Our Vision

Persons affected by Leprosy and any other person share the same universal human dignity, regardless of sex, religion or socio-economic status.
The persons affected by Leprosy should be helped and guided towards achieving universal human dignity.
There should be no limit for providing help and guidance to the persons affected by Leprosy towards that end.

Explore and secure any existing commodities, sources and resources from the government or other agency for the community affected by Leprosy.
Provide any needs/life necessities for the persons affected by Leprosy for the sole purpose of becoming an excellent prototype of how a community of persons affected by Leprosy, if empowered, can achieve self-reliance, standing on their own feet.
In the future, persons affected by Leprosy should be able to market their excellent products for the benefit of the people beyond their habitat.

Our Mission

Our Commitment

We are fully convinced that HKH when coordinated professionally through community empowerment of persons affected by leprosy towards total self-reliance, to eliminate the centuries olden stigma as well as the myth of leprosy in the future.

Our Actions

EMPOWER THEM

We wish to empower them. Helping people affected by leprosy to find their self-esteem. So much so that people would respect them even if they are people affected by leprosy. We wish these people eventually regain their human dignity which is so inherent to every individual, regardless of their sex, race, faith or socio-economic status.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

How we want to give all we have to make this project successful but we still direly need your help which will make this project unique. Any amount you can spend, would be most welcome. We wish this project may serve as a model in dealings with durable assistance to people affected by leprosy.

A DECENT HOUSE

They deserve a decent house and a garden. And to assist them in various endeavours, such as lifelihood projects, all sustainable. Their products should have excellent marketing values for facilitating supplies to nearby city. These activities should help them, to help themselves, aiming at self-reliance to finally stand on their own feet!

BEGGING ALMS

In the past, most persons affected by leprosy earn their living by begging alms at various busiest corners of the streets. Due to their fate and appearance, kindhearted people would give some little or more than little funds. Others may pledge contributions periodically. For how long? Aren’t these people doomed to beg until the end of their lives?

Our Plan Of Actions

The principal activities are carried out by a Community Organizer, assisted by experienced and capable assistants (experts) in their various fields:

Construction worker to build houses incl. garden & fence
Agrarian to select the ideal location of land for the houses to be built and for agriculture/cultivation/breeding as needed.
Agriculturist to select and prepare fertile soil, irrigation, assist the persons affected by leprosy to use the land, selecting those products with highest marketing value.
Expert in animal husbandry to help select the best ways to successfully breed livestock locally.
Fisheries expert to help select and advise for successful land-(ponds) and sea fisheries.
Marketing expert to advise on the procurement of products with the highest market value.
Others still to be mentioned.

PANCA KUMALA

the Five Gemstones of Empowerment

1. PHYSICAL EMPOWERMENT

The physical condition of all inhabitants are monitored. Including the disease status of patients with leprosy. Early detection of symptoms and instant therapy for new leprosy cases to achieve a permanent or lasting cure. Habitants are introduced a healthy life style about food and personal hygiene through relevant talk shows and morning exercises. Treat ‘simple’ lepra reactions. Refer complicated cases to specialist and follow up.

2. SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT

Every family or community will be provided ½ or ¼ Ha of land for gardening, vegetables for own consumption aiming at self-sufficiency. For daily living, inhabitants get some money, tools for household, gardening and agriculture . The best seeds or plants, fertilizers and pesticides will be at their disposal. They will be assisted by motivators, experts in gardening and agronomics. Working together (gotong royong) and joined labour (kerja bakti) activities will develop the sense of belonging among the inhabitants of HKH.vant talk shows and morning exercises. Treat ‘simple’ lepra reactions. Refer complicated cases to specialist and follow up.

3. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Each family or community will be provided a piece of land approx. 1 – 1½ Ha for agriculture, livestock raising or whatever they would desire. Expert community development, agronomics, marketing specialists, cooperatives, etc will help them to make the right choice(s). Within five years the farmers will be able to deliver their best products for supplying the neighboring markets in ample quantities. They may be able to stand firmly on their own feet, without the usual charity aid. The better the business, the more respect they will achieve from their neighbors. People with leprosy may eventually earn back their dignity (our Vision).

4. MENTAL EMPOWERMENT

Through talk shows, case demonstrations, inhabitants are to be regularly and systematically ‘brainwashed’ about their stigmatization and de-stigmatization (“being a leper, always a leper who can not achieve anything. We will always fail as we are discriminated.“). Joint activities like singing, music making, may also help develop a stronger bond among the family members, as well as to wash away their negative attitude towards themselves and their world outside.

5. SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT

People with leprosy also have a myth, that their condition is a curse from a divine power above. It must be emphasized repeatedly, that their disease is a normal, but ugly disease which can be cured altogether, if treatment was initiated early with the powerful medicines. However, if early treatment was not adequate, the disease may become ugly if not managed well by specialists. Finally, the people are encouraged to achieve reconciliation with their divinity and worship according their belief.