The entire Physicians With Heart delegation visited a leprosy village east of Ho Chi Minh City to deliver rice, school supplies and small gifts to the families. The supplies were purchased with $503 raised by delegate Sara Montegut at her high school in Brunswick, Maine.
The village is home to 359 people, including 120 children. It is completely self-contained, with its own school, medical care and shops. Not everyone living in the village is infected with leprosy, but if one family member contracts the disease, societal stigma and ignorance force the entire family to move into the community. The men, women and children greeted the delegation with warm smiles.
Leprosy Village
The children waited eagerly for the distribution of balloons, stickers and small toys.
Delegate James Morsch helps a village man load his bag of rice onto a bicycle for the short ride home.
The villagers graciously allowed us to wander through their community. Visitors didn't keep this woman from tackling her Saturday morning laundry.
In a house by the water, a woman prepares lunch for her family.
