Global Activism: Helping Ecuadorans with Hansen’s Disease

It's Thursday and time for our Global Activism series. Each Thursday, we hear about an individual who's decided to work to make the world a better place.

Hansen's disease, commonly known as leprosy, is one of the most misunderstood diseases. Only 5% of the world is susceptible to infection by Hansen's disease. 

The disease is easily treated through multi-drug antibiotic therapy. Yet, age-old social stigmas prevent many from seeking treatment. The result of this is that over two million people worldwide are estimated to be permanently disabled by Hansen's disease. 

Sister Ann ie Credidio is Founder of Damien House. It's a charitable hospital and clinic in Guayaquil , Ecuador for people with Hansen's disease.

In the late 80s, Sister Credidio began volunteering in the Hansen's wing of a hospital in Guayaquil . She told Jerome how her experiences there led her to work with her friend Suzanne Belz to form Damien House...