My Scars Tell A Powerful Story, Leprosy Survivor Says

Do not look at me differently, my scars tell a powerful story. This was an impassioned plea made by leprosy survivor Nemia Tuilawa.

Mr Tuilawa, 40, shared his life changing testimony during the World Leprosy Day celebration at the PJ Twomey Hospital in Tamavua on Thursday, January 28.

He said that he feared for his life when he got the news that he was suffering from Leprosy in 2015.

“Leprosy is not a joke,” he said.

“At times I just could not handle the swollen body, joint ache, itchiness and many more.

“For now, I’m still on medication to fight the side effect reactions of leprosy but the good news is that I’m cured.”

Mr Tuilawa said several skin tests were made to determine his leprosy status.

“I thought I had diabetes because of the wound that started on my foot. I didn’t know I had leprosy.”

He said that the leprosy reaction would worsen if he missed a medication.

“This is why I need constant medical attention to keep me well,” he said.

“But one must understand that this disease is curable.”

He said bystanders would look at him differently, but he was never let down by anyone.

“Sometimes I get comments, or I hear people talk about me because I have scars on my body that are continuing to heal,” he said.

“I often tell people that my scars tell a powerful story, stories of my fight against something I thought was going to take my life.

“I survived my battle.”

He applauded the medical team at the PJ Twomey Hospital for taking good care of him during his treatment.

“The doctors, nurses and staff of the hospital became my family, and I am thankful for all that they have done,”he said.

“We have some of the best people in Fiji that take care of us and look after us well in our treatment.”

Demonologist at the PJ Twomey Hospital Dr Mecuisela Tuicakau said 10 new cases of Leprosy were recorded by the clinic in 2019 to 2020.

“We continue to see new cases of leprosy every year,” Dr Tuicakau said.

Before we used to see less than 10 new cases. Now we are seeing that not only adults were getting leprosy, but students as well.

“Last year we had two secondary school students and a primary school student in 2019 who had leprosy.”

He added that the virus was spread by bacteria contact, breathing through bacteria.

“The problem is that it has a long incubation period if you come into contact with a leprosy patient today you might not show signs until five to six years later,”he said.

“It will depend on your immune system and how healthy you are to fight the bacteria. It’s a curable disease with only one year of treatment.”

Edited by Selita Rabuku

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