Wrong impression about leprosy in the society causes many lepers delayed in treatment until the disability. In fact, leprosy can be cured and the medication can be obtained free of charge in public health service center. Leprosy can be cured and not easily contagious. Leprosy is an infectious chronic diseases caused by bacteria of leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae) which attacks the skin, nervous edge, and the another network of body.

Thus, leprosy is not caused by curses, voodoo, sin, food or the descendants as part of the society impression. Anyone can get leprosy that have no immunity and are often close to people with leprosy wet type that is not treatment, either through the respiratory channel or skin contact. In fact 95 percent of the population have a natural immunity to leprosy so it could not contagious. As much as 3 percent of the population can be contagious, but can heal itself, only 2 percent that can be contagious and need treatment.

However, if the wet type of leprosy patients has regular treatment, it cannot contagious. With one-time drinking the medicine, leprosy is no longer infectious. So that bacteria can be fight, patients must take medication regularly. People with dry leprosy enough to drink the medicine every day for 6 months, and wet leprosy patients must take the medicine every day for 12 days.

The success of treatment depends on the detection and treatment of early, compliance to treatment regularly, and skills of staff in preventing disability. The most important is support of families and societies. This can be done only when the stigma against people with leprosy patients and the former is eliminated.