Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India

Global Ministry's partner, Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI), was established in 1974. During the twenty years of war in Sri Lanka the JDCSI served in the war torn areas and helped sustain communities affected by the terrible violence. The Church has undertaken community revitalization programs in many areas providing relief materials, establishing day care centers, nutritional feeding centers, and vocational training centers for the poor and the needy.

One of the effects of Sri Lanka's war that has lasted twenty years is the deepening of poverty and poor living conditions leading to disease. People who suffer from leprosy experience social stigma and are treated now in ways similar to how lepers were treated during Biblical times. Between January and March of the year 2002 there were 477 cases of leprosy reported. Now, within the last two years, there seems to be an increase in the early signs of the disease in children.

Ananthanilliam Leper Community of the JDCSI, located in Chuliapuram serves persons suffering from leprosy. Ananthanilliam is a very separate community from the rest of Chuliapuram because of the social ostracism directed towards lepers. Ananthanilliam provides vocational training classes, a daycare for children, an after-school tutorial program, a mobile clinic, and a health care and hygiene class.

Recently Ananthanilliam secured funding to provide milk to children everyday, after it was discovered by medical personnel that the children in this community were malnourished and desperately needed more nutrients. With the leadership of Reverend Joshua, the JDCSI is doing its best to gain resources needed to care for lepers and to help break the social stigmas of the disease in Sri Lanka.