 Sri
Venkateswara Poor Home is a hospital that caters to the needs of leprosy
patients. It is one of the largest of its kind in India, and admits
persons suffering from various forms of leprosy, from all over India.
The hospital is well-equipped, with twenty inpatient
wards. The outpatient block has an operation theatre and physiotherapy
section.
Patients are treated with intensive multi-drug
therapy and given physiotherapy. They are also educated about the
prevention and care of leprosy. The average duration of treatment
varies from six to eighteen months.
 During
treatment, patients also undergo occupational therapy where they
are trained in skills like carpentry, shoe-making and weaving. The
training helps in the patients' rehabilitation in society.
The inpatients are given training in agriculture. They are trained
to grow different crops. The produce is used by the hospital; the
excess produce is sent to the other institutions of TTD.
TTD set up the Leprosy Rehabilitation Promotional
Unit (LRPU) in 1988 in the Sri Venkateswara Poor Home campus at
Tirupati under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme of the
Government of India. The Government of India provides full financial
assistance - Rs 4 lakh annually.
 The
objective of LRPU is to provide reconstructive surgery and artificial
prosthetic support to leprosy patients and help them in rehabilitation.
Patients are provided several facilities including
free food and accommodation.
The Poor Home has set its sights on the total
eradication of leprosy in India. It aims to increase awareness among
the public about leprosy through health education. It keeps abreast
with the latest technical know-how by deputing its staff to various
medical institutions, and conducting seminars periodically to focus
on the latest trends in treatment and rehabilitation measures.
TTD has been inspired by Mother Teresa
who once remarked, "When I
am washing the wounds of a leper, I feel I am doing great service
to the Lord ".
Would you like to donate
to the SV Poor Home?
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