My name is Philister Ochieng. I live in Migori County, Kenya, in a small village called Nyandago in Nyatike Sub-County. I was born in Homa Bay County, in Suba South Sub-County. I was 12 years old when I realized that I had leprosy. It was a total shock and I felt very bad.

When I first started becoming sick, I was taken to herbalist who did not help me at all. I was then taken to a man who prays for people but all this was again in vain. I later walked myself to a hospital where I was diagnosed and treated for leprosy for one year and cured with minimal deformity.

After being diagnosed with leprosy, my life changed. I was abandoned by my father and immediate family members and went to live with the Catholic nuns who were in charge of the hospital where I sought treatment. After completing my treatment, they adopted me because I had no home to go back to. And they took me back to school.

I have undergone a lot of discrimination in my life. As well as being rejected by my family, when I was in school, I could not associate with other students. In marriage, since I told my spouse that I once had leprosy, I am being abused and sometimes he refers to me with the derogatory word ‘leper’.

But I was lucky to get an education. I passed the primary level very well and proceeded to secondary level where I also did well. After that, they enrolled me in a medical college where I became a licensed nurse.

I have not yet got permanent employment, but I am currently volunteering at Kadem TB and Leprosy Hospital, which is the Catholic mission hospital where I got the help from.

My life has really changed. Now that I am fully recovered, my family members really want me to be back home. And now they know that I am having a career, they want to associate with me. Also, my marriage has given me two children, who are leprosy free!!