KARACHI: A documentary titled Zero Leprosy directed by Lucas Dulligen, Malte Hafner and Elena U and conceived by Anil Fastenau was screened at the Arts Council on Saturday.

With the help of a series of interviews of leprosy patients, the film highlighted their plight as well as the fact that the disease is curable. Some of them also mentioned the name of Dr Ruth Pfau who helped them come out of the tragic situation and heal. For example, one patient, a woman named Mairaj, said she lost her father when she was four years old. It made her tense. In 2024, she had leprosy. She came to the MALC (Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre) and was cured. Faisal Qureshi, a motorcycle mechanic faced a similar situation and was later healed.

Earlier, addressing the audience, Dr Iqra, who hosted the event, said a project titled ‘Game Changer’ was initiated in 2024. It was aimed to train and empower individuals who had experienced leprosy. The short video highlights stories of such individuals’ struggle and their success. “The purpose of the video is to shed light on their journey to inspire empathy and to promote understanding so that they can be seen and heard, as every voice matters,” she said.

“Leprosy has long been misunderstood leading to stigma and discrimination. People hesitate to get treatment due to these misconceptions. The reality is that leprosy is curable, if diagnosed and treated in time. To break these barriers, we invited some individuals who have personally experienced the disease. They were given extensive training through various workshops, helping them build confidence and communication skills. Through storytelling, they are now role models. As we are on the path of zero leprosy, the main segment is the stigma and discrimination. For that, we need to change the behaviour of the community,” she said.

Dr Iqra added a film team from Germany had worked tirelessly to document the above-mentioned individuals’ journeys.

The director of the film Lucas and Elena managed the sound, and the man behind the camera was Malte.

The film is collaboration between the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) and the DAHW Germany.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2025