MORHAN (Movimento de Reintegração das Pessoas Atingidas pela Hanseníase) or Movement of Reintegration of Persons Afflicted by Hansen's disease in English, is a non-profit organization that operates to reduce leprosy and the stigma of leprosy in Brazil. This organization was initially created to ensure the rights of patients from leper colonies due to their isolation, and today it is one of the most successful Brazilian social movements, with representation in the National Health Council. The group has used several methods to disseminate information about leprosy including, but not limited to, handing out pamphlets, hosting seminars, and organizing puppet shows for children. Morhan also creates its own publications as a means of mobilization and news regarding leprosy. Furthermore, Morhan has worked with anthropologists to provide explanatory models and lay explanations of leprosy within the Brazilian context. Morhan's work has been exemplary in creating partnerships between social groups and the government and received an award from the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. The current National Coordinator is Artur Custodio Moreira de Souza.
Mission
Morhan's primary mission is to make people in society understand that leprosy is a curable diseases and to eliminate discrimination and stigma surrounding leprosy.
Vision
Morhan's vision is to continue to be an informational resource about leprosy, to support those afflicted with leprosy in Brazil, and to be a reference on treatment and human rights.
Objectives
Morhan has statutory objectives, which include but are not limited to: Work towards the elimination of leprosy Assist in healing, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons who contracted leprosy Advocate for people affected by leprosy to not suffer restrictions in their social life (job, family, church, school ...) Contribute to conquer the leprosy stigma and help patients exercise full citizenship Ensure housing, care, and support to people with leprosy in the time of compulsory isolation (30–60 days)
History
Morhan was established on June 6, 1981, by eight people in São Paulo, Brazil, whom had met through extensive research on leprosy or having lived in centers for people afflicted with leprosy. Morhan first emerged as an organization for the physically handicapped in general, although a specific group for those disabled by Hansen’s disease or leprosy was set up soon afterwards. Support was mobilized mainly among former patients, or those still living in leper colony hospitals. Morhan shattered the stigmatized image of a movement in search of charity by adopting an approach to defend the rights of citizens. Morhan’s participation in Hansen’s disease control policymaking was made official nationwide in 1986, influencing the make-up of state technical commissions and municipal health councils.
Founders
Francisco Augusto Vieira Nunes, or as he was affectionately named Bacurau, was one of the primary leaders in establishing Morhan in 1981. Bacurau contracted leprosy at the age of 5 in the 1940s and he was sent to live in a leper colony for most of his adolescence. Bacurau was Morhan's first National Coordinator. Thomas Frist, a North American social scientist who, at the end of the 1970s and the start of the 1980s, set up a project involving patients from the communities surrounding the old leper colony hospitals was also one of the founders of Morhan. Another founder Cristiano Torres, who spent time in prevention centers and leper colony hospitals since his childhood was a leading figure in the process to resocialize patients from the Marituba Colony in Belém, Pará. He is the regional coordinator in his state and has been a member of the Morhan board.