At just five years old, Priscilla Nontsele has endured more than most people face in a lifetime. Diagnosed with leprosy at the age of two, she underwent five surgeries to combat the disease. Today, Priscilla is fully healed, but her battle is far from over.
Her dream of becoming a teacher now hangs in the balance after Faith Montessori School in Gbawe, Greater Accra, dismissed her upon discovering her medical history.
Born into a poor family in Dafeama, a community in the Upper West Region, Priscilla’s early years have been filled with challenges. Her caretaker, Barbara Humphrey, recounted the young girl’s struggles:
“Her family wanted to kill her, She has been through so much at such a young age. But despite all the pain, she is a bright, cheerful child who just wants to go to school.”
After months of recovery, Priscilla was finally ready to start school. However, just two weeks into her enrollment at Faith Montessori, she was dismissed. Her foster father, Rev. Father Campbell, was visibly heartbroken and frustrated by the school’s decision:
“This is unfair, this is clear discrimination. this child has suffered and she deserves the right to education. every child deserves the right to education’’
Despite medical confirmation that leprosy is curable and poses no health risk once treated, misconceptions about the disease continue to haunt survivors.
Dr. Benedict Quao, Program Manager for Leprosy at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized:
“Once a person has completed treatment and is fully healed, they are no longer contagious.
Faith Montessori has refused to provide an official explanation for Priscilla’s dismissal, further fueling concerns of stigma against the little girl.
Health experts warn that such stigma discourages early reporting of leprosy cases, which is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.
“When people fear rejection, they delay seeking treatment. This allows the disease to progress and increases the chances of complications,” Dr. Quao cautioned.
Child Rights International, an NGO advocating for children’s welfare, is calling for policy reforms to protect children from discrimination based on their medical history.
Bright Appiah, Executive Director of the NGO, stated:
This calls for the need of policy redirection, every child has the right to education. government should ensure Schools have the capacity to accommodate children like Priscilla’
Priscilla’s case has become a rallying cry for advocates and health professionals, who insist that no child should be denied an education due to past illness.
For now, Priscilla’s dream of becoming a teacher remains uncertain. But with growing support from child rights activists, medical experts, and the public, there is hope that she will soon find a school that welcomes hernot as a former leprosy patient, but as a child eager to learn and thrive.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Awisi Dede Djangay
