When people hear the word Leprosy, the looming stature is a scruffy, shabby, and the poor. Leprosy disease is always attached to the negative conditions and poverty. In fact, many people assume that Leprosy is hereditary and disease caused by the curse that acts violating the social norms and religious person does. Since the time of BCE people who have Leprosy always scorned and excluded from social interaction.

Away from the public trust over the years, actually Leprosy is a common disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy disease is medically can be cured by taking drugs MDT (Multi Drug Therapy) which can be routinely obtained for free at Public Health Centers across Indonesia.
However, until now the people affected by leprosy (cured of leprosy) still have most of the negative stigma and discrimination from the surrounding community. Because leprosy has experienced many of them issued from the office, expelled from school, isolation from friends and family, and some of them get divorced because of known have had leprosy. Leprosy can be cured easily, but the social and economic impacts as a result of a mistaken view of the community about leprosy is a serious problem and need a long time to overcome.

Permata Indonesia (Independent Leprosy Association) an organization formed by people affected by leprosy aware that change must start from ourselves that the people affected by leprosy. Improving quality of life of people affected by leprosy and foster a true understanding of leprosy in the community is a very important business to be done to remove the stigma and discrimination. It is expected the people affected by leprosy can reasonably coexist in the middle of the community with respect and dignity.