TLM Sunday
TLM Sunday

Our main speaker for TLM Sunday on 15th June will be Heather Smith from McKean Rehabilitation Centre in Thailand.  Heather and her husband Trevor felt called by God in 1969 to leave their home in rural Australia and have spent the last 39 years finding out all the plans that God has had for them, many of which were a far cry from Heather's previous experience of teaching history, physical education and Indonesian language to Aussie high school students.  Heather is now Deputy Director of McKean Rehabilitation Centre in Chiang Mai Thailand, and heads the Vocational Activity Training Department, responsible for helping empower leprosy and disabled patients and their families to have sustainable livelihoods and live with acceptance and productivity in their home communities.  Over the years she has faced a variety of challenges and learning opportunities through various role changes.  She commenced teaching in the school for the children with leprosy who came to McKean Hospital for treatment and rehabilitation, and helping establish a pleasant hostel home for these children, many of whom were wounded by hard experiences of rejection by family and friends on top of having to cope with disease and disability.  

Seven years later Heather was put in charge of the McKean children's welfare and family development programme, working with over 500 children from poor families and with hundreds of other children in leprosy villages. The goal was to find a way for these children to access education, and empower families to attain greater self-support and a better future

In 1988 Heather was asked to head up the McKean vocational department, and take general administrative roles as assistant director of the whole centre.  By this time McKean had become a comprehensive rehabilitation centre integrating leprosy and other physical disabled persons in its hospital-based and community-based programmes.  There are many different aspects to the work of McKean as they seek to help patients with their diverse need.- medical, social,  spiritual, psychological, educational, economic and vocational.

Apart from the challenges of learning a new language and adapting to a new culture and climate, and developing new skills, Heather and Trevor have shared many other adventures.  Not least of these have been the 7 times when their home was deeply flooded.  That made it even harder to see and deal with the uninvited cobras and scorpions which have always a tendency to visit. However their lives have been greatly enriched by all the people they have worked with, especially the many patients with heart wrenching experiences and amazing achievements.

Trevor has been involved as a doctor and, since 1975, head of McKean medical team, and was awarded a royal order by the King of Thailand for his work with leprosy patients.  Heather and Trevor have both been honoured with the Order of Australia for their roles in promoting international relations and in humanitarian work. This year they have the joy of involvement in celebrating the centenary of service of this Christian centre in placecountry-regionThailand.  McKean has had the vision to change and adapt its methods and ministries over the years to pioneer new ideas and continue to meet the needs to some of the most marginalized and needy people in Thailand and in surrounding countries. There is a lot to celebrate in this centenary year.

If you want to find out more about Heather's work then please come along to welcome and hear her speak at 9.30am 11.15am services.  Other speakers on the day are Henry Jerwood (8am) and Allister du Plessis (6.30pm).

There will be retiring collections after each service to provide training for over 3,000 medical students in 30 medical colleges in India to diagnose and treat leprosy.  It will also enable college staff to continue providing this training to future students once the project has finished.  There are more cases of leprosy in placecountry-regionIndia than any other country in the world, yet very few doctors leaving medical college have an understanding of this disease.  Therefore it is likely that there are many more undiagnosed cases.  In addition, very few doctors are choosing to become leprologists.  Government and NGOs are finding it increasingly difficult to appoint specialist staff in their hospitals and research centres.  In order for leprosy to be eradicated and for research to be undertaken to identify a vaccine, it is essential that more doctors choose to specialise in leprosy.  As leprosy is not covered adequately as part of existing training courses, this means that doctors are not able to correctly diagnose or treat the disease, leading to misdiagnosis and disability that could otherwise be avoided.  Many doctors are also unable to manage leprosy reactions which can prove both painful and distressing for the patient.  Therefore the objectives of the project are;

To partner with 30 colleges to develop the leprosy knowledge and skills of staff and medical students.
To train college staff in the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy so they will be able to deliver training to future students.
To give 3,000 medical students increased understanding and knowledge so that they can accurately diagnose and effectively treat people with leprosy.
To reduce any prejudice that may exist in the medical profession against people with leprosy so that more doctors will be better able to treat people with the disease, which will help to eliminate social exclusion.
For any further information about TLM please contact Barbara Gentle 01564 773568 email; barbara@drgentle.freeserve.co.uk or visit www.leprosymission.org.uk