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“A Mighty Kauri Has Fallen”
The Leprosy Mission Mourns the Death of Eddie Askew
Eddie Askew, known in New Zealand for his inspirational meditations and devotional books and known all over the world as an influential leader of The Leprosy Mission, as well as an author and painter, passed away on September 27, 2007.
He came to New Zealand twice, once in 1974 for The Leprosy Mission’s Centenary celebrations in New Zealand and once in 1997, when he gave a series of retreats and quiet days. David Hall, Executive Director of The Leprosy Mission New Zealand, remembers this visit.: “Eddie had the ability to inspire others. He was one of the ‘mighty kauris’ of The Leprosy Mission, and I for one will miss him.” His leadership of the organization was marked for its emphasis on partnership among people of many different cultures and countries, held together by Christian compassion and concern.
A D (Eddie) Askew, OBE, Obituary
1927-2007
Eddie was born in 1927 and grew up in Nottingham, England. In the mid-1940’s he was called up for service and volunteered with the Navy medical corps to assist surgeons in theatre. After his service ended he trained to be a teacher at St John’s College, York.
Eddie first felt called to work with people affected by leprosy when he saw an exhibition on leprosy work during a visit to a cathedral. In 1950 he married Barbara, and one month later they sailed for India with The Leprosy Mission, where Eddie served as Principal of a school in Purulia, West Bengal, for leprosy-affected children. Two years later he was asked to take over the running of TLM’s 600-bed home and hospital there. Eddie, Barbara and their two daughters, Stephanie and Jenny, left Purulia in 1965 and returned to England, where Eddie took up the position of Executive Secretary at the International Office in London. In 1974 he became International General Secretary.
It was a time of change, when The Leprosy Mission transitioned from a London-centred organisation to a truly international fellowship where those who needed care, those who cared for them and those who provided the means to care were bonded into a true partnership of love and concern.
About the same time it became evident that leprosy bacilli were becoming resistant to Dapsone, which for many years had been the basic, cheap treatment for leprosy. Many studies resulted in the adoption by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT). The introduction of MDT during Eddie’s leadership was to result in many and profound changes in the Mission’s programmes.
He was also closely involved in the establishment of ILEP (International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations), which sought to co-ordinate the activities and programmes of organisations of diverse countries, languages and beliefs so that their resources were not wasted or duplicated. In this Eddie’s diplomatic skills were greatly appreciated in helping to bring together amicably often widely-differing viewpoints.
Eddie was a gifted speaker with an easy and witty manner and could move, persuade and motivate his hearers. To his colleagues he was always easy, unpretentious and approachable, ready to listen or encourage. He was well-liked and well-respected and had a wonderful sense of humour. An early riser, he would arrive at the office well before the morning rush hour to have a period free of interruptions when he could think and write. He continued the practice of a monthly newsletter to the Mission staff worldwide, a blend of news items and a short devotional passage and in 1982 he was persuaded by Morgan Derham to publish a selection of some of the latter as A Silence and a Shouting – the first of many such books (16 in total) which have been so much appreciated in New Zealand and other countries.
Eddie was always an artist and on his frequent travels he was never without a camera or a sketch book. His best-selling devotional books, calendars, paintings and cards raised around £2.5 million for The Leprosy Mission, and over a million copies of his books have been sold.
He longed for more time to write and paint, and after thirteen intense, productive but exhausting years of leadership, he retired five years early in May 1987.
Eddie’s life was indeed a partnership: first with his beloved Barbara with whom he went to Purulia Leprosy Hospital in Bengal, India. Here was born also that deep love and compassion for those affected by leprosy that underlay Eddie’s entire subsequent ministry. Finally, as the foundation of his whole life, was his partnership with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Eddie Askew OBE, much loved husband, father and grandfather, artist, writer, broadcaster, former General Secretary of The Leprosy Mission, died with dignity on the 27 September, 2007. His funeral was held in Nottingham on 9th October. A Memorial Service of Thanksgiving for his life will be held at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, London, on 28 November.
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Prime Minister’s Slip Offends 30 Million, Leprosy Mission Asks for Apology
Sunday, 8th July, 2007
The Leprosy Mission New Zealand is reeling over Prime Minister Helen Clark’s recent, insensitive use of the word ‘leper’ in her comments as reported by TV One on Sunday, which is likely to offend over 30 million people who are affected by leprosy worldwide.
The Prime Minister was reported by Guyon Espiner of TV One News as saying that the self-appointed Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, will be “treated something like a leper” if he attends the South Pacific Forum meetings.
“This is shockingly inappropriate – indicating that Bainimarama will be “treated like a leper” is degrading and insulting to the millions of people, who through no fault of their own, have or have had leprosy,” David Hall has said in a statement.
“Stigma such as this not only makes it more difficult for people to come forward for treatment, it often leads to human rights abuses. People affected by leprosy should be treated the same as everyone else – they are no different. We would not describe someone who has had measles as ‘a measle’ so why should people affected by leprosy be described as ‘lepers’? “
“Prime Minister Clark is promoting stigma and discrimination by using the word ‘leper’ when she means that Bainimarama will be ostracised by the South Pacific leaders.”
New Zealand is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in article 7: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”
“We demand an apology to those 30 million people who have been affected by leprosy and that she never use the word ‘leper’ again. “
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General Info:
Leprosy is still a disease of our time. At least one person discovers they have leprosy every two minutes. It is a disease of poverty, often found alongside malnutrition and overcrowding. Today leprosy is endemic in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal and Tanzania. However, more than half of all new cases are found in India. The Leprosy Mission works with affected communities in around 30 countries in Asia and Africa.
When The Leprosy Mission began its work in 1874, there was little that could be done to ease the physical effects of leprosy. Since 1981, 14 million people have been treated with multi-drug therapy, a combination of three antibiotics, and thousands have had their sight and movement restored by surgery. Despite international efforts to eliminate leprosy, the number of new cases found every year remains stable in most countries.
Multi-drug therapy effectively kills the leprosy bacillus but cannot restore lost sensation to damaged nerves in hands and feet. Early detection is vital to prevent disability. If leprosy is not diagnosed and treated early, loss of feeling makes people vulnerable to injury and can ultimately lead to disability. Between two and four million people have been left with visible deformities, which puts them at risk of isolation and deeper poverty. Much of The Leprosy Mission’s work focuses on preventing disability and helping those already affected to lead normal lives.
The Leprosy Mission is renowned for its hospitals and specialist referral services, but people with leprosy need more than just medicine. Leprosy is a human rights issue and The Leprosy Mission’s work goes beyond curing a disease. Our programmes address leprosy’s underlying causes, like poverty, by advocating for affected people’s rights, ensuring that children remain in education, and providing vocational training and socio-economic rehabilitation.
Often people are reluctant to seek medical care for fear that others will find out, and many leprosy patients are still rejected by their families and communities. Along with disability and poverty, stigma is one of leprosy’s worst consequences. The Leprosy Mission uses tools like self-help groups and education to enable people with leprosy to reintegrate, gain skills to earn a living and rediscover their self-esteem.
For further details contact:
David Hall
Executive Director
The Leprosy Mission New Zealand
591 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Auckland
Ph 09 630 2818 Fax 09 623 1865
david.hall@leprosymission.org.nz
Or
Julie Harrison
Communications Officer
Ph 09 630 2818 Fax 09 623 1865
julie.harrison@leprosymission.org.nz
www.leprosymission.org.nz
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