LEPROSY: GIFTED HANDS FOR THE FRAGILE FEET
William Omwega

15th December 2010
Wau : Leprosy when left untreated for long leads to deformities especially of the feet and hands. The deformities are sometimes extreme leaving leprosy patients with uneven feet size and others without toes. Some patients have to walk bare footed thus breaking the already fragile skin on old scars and ending up with bad ulcers.
Anthony Mathere has been making special shoes for leprosy patients for the past 30 years. “I was trained for three years by a man called Rob from Holland”. At Agok in Wau, he is the only one still making shoes after his three former colleagues left for other Jobs. ‘One of my former colleague is working as a guard in Wau, another one is doing business and the other I hear is in Khartoum’ said Anthony. He makes the shoes with a special material made of Micro-cellular rubber (MCR) that is soft and comfortable to the fragile skin. The material is then joined with a plastic sole and strapping with a buckle to hold the feet.
Unlike normal shoes, Anthony has to make his shoes using a patient’s specific measurement.’ A patient is told to step on a piece of paper and the feet drawn on the paper using either pen or pencil. The drawn feet on paper is then labeled either right or left and bears the patients name’, said Anthony.
In the past he used a machine but some parts were vandalized during the war in Sudan. He uses his hands to piece together and he can make up to four pairs in a good day. He also handles shoes brought in for repairs by persons affected by Leprosy (PAL). “I have to balance between making new shoes and repairing old ones,” said Anthony.
“Many people affected by Leprosy try sandals and other type of shoes which are uncomfortable for their feet but are very happy once I make shoes that fit their feet and aid them in walking without much difficulty,” added Anthony.