00:00In the Beni territory of North Kivu province in the small town of Oicha,
00:11leprosy does more than damage the body.
00:15It isolates and stigmatizes those who suffer from it.
00:19Today, patients are speaking out, denouncing what they describe as a double punishment,
00:25social rejection, and the prolonged absence of life-saving medication.
00:30At the Mbimbi Leprosarium, 28 people living with leprosy receive free care.
00:35But for more than a year, essential medicines have been unavailable, putting recovery out of reach.
00:43Today I feel a little better.
00:46When I arrived here, I had deformities and moved on my bottom like a child.
00:50Now I have managed to start again and work with crutches.
00:54Despite the fact that leprosy is fully curable, stigma remains widespread.
01:01Fataki Kapitula from Ituri province has been in treatment for nearly five years.
01:06The Mbimbi Center restored his hope, but the interruption of medication now threatens that progress.
01:12This disease drains all your strength.
01:18After treatment, I regained energy, but now the medicine is out of stock.
01:23New patients are no longer treated here.
01:26They are transferred somewhere else.
01:27Since 2025, the Leprosarium has faced a complete shortage of anti-leprosy drugs.
01:36After M23 rebels took Goma last year, the situation has gotten worse.
01:41Health workers say they are now forced to refer patients outside the country,
01:45an option many families cannot afford.
01:47Since the capture of Goma Airport, we have had serious supply difficulties.
01:54Patients had to stop treatment.
01:56New cases are diagnosed and referred to Uganda.
01:58Already in 2026, we've recorded one such transfer.
02:02Health workers warn that without urgent support, the consequences could be severe.
02:08Leprosy, they say, is no longer just a medical issue, but a growing public health emergency.
02:14We risk a resurgence of cases, even an epidemic we won't be able to control.
02:23There are clearly hidden cases in the community, but without medicines or resources, we are powerless.
02:29Only 28 patients are currently being treated at the Bimbi Leprosarium thanks to early screening and decentralized care.
02:37Founded in 1950, once among the world's largest leprosy centers,
02:42Bimbi now stands as a symbol of progress and a threat,
02:46as conflict and shortages jeopardize decades of gains.
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