Diseases and Epidemics - Order of Malta

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Order of Malta

: Grand Master leads the Order’s professed members’ spiritual retreat

: Order of Malta’s 48th association established in Hong Kong, third in Asia

: Indonesia earthquake and tsunami: a month later, Malteser International still supporting reconstruction of health facilities

: Order of Malta Pilgrimage to Sanctuary of Loreto – 1700 participants from all over Italy

: Memorandum signed with Georgia Government

: The Order of Malta reaffirms its strong commitment to fight human trafficking

: Credentials presented by Philippines and Germany

: Environmentally friendly school inaugurated in the Rhino refugee camp in Northern Uganda

: Pope Paul VI is the Order of Malta’s New Saint

: Order of Malta National Day in Italy to promote health and solidarity

Treating neglected diseases across five continents

Hansen’s disease or leprosy is a ‘Disease of Poverty’ that can be cured. Widely stigmatised throughout the centuries and still today, leprosy occurs in conditions of severe poverty – of malnutrition, overcrowding and lack of care. In the last fifty years the Order of Malta has fought for its eradication whilst caring for the afflicted. Today, research programmes for the care and rehabilitation of people with leprosy are operational, especially in Africa, South East Asia and South America.
The Order continues its work in combating major epidemics of tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS – still the prime causes of death in Africa. Its relief corps in South Africa provides life-changing HAART drugs for people living with HIV, regularly taking medicines via its mobile clinic to patients living alone in poverty and isolation. Malteser International fights against moderate and severe malnutrition in children in northern Uganda, where droughts and overpopulation have had disastrous effects. In Haiti – where the Order of Malta has been active since 1995 – cholera-prevention programmes are vital to stop the spread of the disease.