Programmes Workshop Day 1

Sian from TLM England and Wales introduces the strategy

Dr Eliane presents her group's thoughts on challenges faced

I am now in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where 29 people from across the TLM world have gathered to discuss and plan and learn from each other.  We represent about 17 countries, I think the list is as follows: Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, DR Congo, England and Wales, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Sudan and Timor Leste.  The first day was looking at issues around our new Global Strategy, the challenges we face in implementing it, and about how we measure our performance.  It has been great to see old friends of TLM scotland, who have previously visited us, like Dr Eliane, from TLM Angola, who was last with us in June, Len Len from Myanmar who visited 2 years ago and Terver from TLM Nigeria who has visited us several times, and does a great job when asked to speak to a kids' club (he's good with adults too of course).  It was also wonderful to meet people that I have previously only exchanged emails or skype calls with, or just heard about from colleagues. 

Wilson from TLM South Sudan shares his group's ideas

The best bit was the wee stories we kept hearing of different encouragements and issues people are facing.  Projects which are working well, new ways of working, innovative ideas, and the reality of life in different places.  Wilson from South Sudan was sharing that things are calmer there, but everything is still a bit uncertain.  He told us that TLM South Sudan was invited by Handicap International to get involved in work on draughting a Disability Policy for their government, which was supposed to have gone before their parliament in December, but due to the conflict, is still waiting to be passed.

Mary Verghese of TLMT India outlines their Country Strategy

 Eliane from TLM Angola shared her disappointment from attending a WHO conference late last year on NTDs (Neglected Tropical Diseases), where organisations specialising in particular diseases were encouraged to work together to achieve good results for patients, and were given case studies of how this had worked well in some African countries.  However, the representative of another Angolan organisation which was being urged to work with TLM flatly refused to have anything to do with leprosy so as not to have to share resources. 

James from TLM Australia in full flow

Alan Gray of TLM International enthuses us about indicators

NTDs are a real area of interest at present, as much leprosy treatment and care finds common ground in some aspects of the treatment and care for patients of those other diseases, and while in some areas leprosy care is a bit of poor relation, in others we are well ahead of the game, and using the skills of our staff, and the experience of programmes run over so many years, have much to offer colleagues from other organisations, and in our turn can learn much from them to improve patient care.  Along with this is the fact that much of our work serves not just people affected by leprosy, but also people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.  Jannine from TLMI is working with Tearfund about making some of their projects more inclusive for people with disabilities, and the proven example of TLM Myanmar's work with leprosy in the wider context of disability care is always encouraging.  They run a network of Disability Resource Centres, which provide care and training for people affected by disability and their families.

Looks like being a really interesting week!