Protecting the Rights of Leprosy Affected People in Rural Community of Jember, Indonesia

Abstract

Leprosy patients in the community need special attention and care. Problems experienced by leprosy affected people (LAP) in the community can be solved by the protection of their rights. Such rights of LAPs are to be protected as vulnerable population in the community to maintain the quality of life in the community. The results of the identification of problems faced by LAPs in the community and the fulfillment of their physical, psychological, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual needs are greatly influenced by the factors peculiar to LAPs and the availability of health care resources, and the discrimination of LAPs in particular settings. The problems of LAPs in rural areas of Jember include skin lesions, disabilities, social stigma, interrupted medical management, and unreachable health services. Several efforts to improve clean and healthy life behavior, wound and disability care, social support, health education in reducing community stigma, and sustainable treatment have been carried out as efforts to provide health services. Furthermore, minimizing the impact of inequality in the protection of leprosy patients' rights needs to be greatly reduced in order to reduce the risk of leprosy status as a population at risk in the community.