A young doctor named Paluel Joseph Flagg, grieving the loss of his wife and their infant daughter, hoped to find solace in service. He traveled to Haiti, where he discovered patients suffering from the devastating condition then known as leprosy. Inspired by the Haitians he met and the need he saw, Dr. Flagg went on to found CMMB. More than a century later, we remain dedicated to caring for those living with leprosy, or Hansen’s Disease. CMMB supports Klinik Sen Damien, Haiti’s only dedicated leprosy clinic, providing patients with healing treatment that protects their dignity amid this highly stigmatized disease and keeps them closer to home.

What Is Hansen’s Disease?

Every year, about 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy. The ancient disease is also called Hansen’s Disease, after the Norwegian physician who discovered the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria that attack an infected person’s nerves, muscles, eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Without treatment, it can cause permanent paralysis and blindness.

For centuries, Hansen’s Disease caused immense fear. People with the disease were ostracized and forced to live in isolation, so they did not spread the sickness to others. Now we know that Hansen’s Disease spreads only through prolonged contact over several months, likely through airborne droplets released through coughing or sneezing.

We also have highly effective medications to cure this disease. Since 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) has distributed free multidrug therapy for Hansen’s Disease. More than 17 million people have been treated.

Even so, the stigma remains. Hansen’s Disease is considered a neglected tropical disease, a designation that means it receives less funding and attention because it mostly affects people living in low-resource countries.

Bringing Care Closer to Home

For far too long, Hansen’s Disease was neglected in Haiti. Humanitarian crises and natural disasters pulled focus toward other pressing health concerns. A decade ago, that began to change. Motivated by WHO’s 2014 International Leprosy Summit, a hospital in Gonaïves Commune in northern Haiti set aside a small conference room to care for people with unexplained skin conditions.

Awareness of the clinic spread, and more patients sought care. Soon, additional space was needed. And so, Klinik Sen Damien was created, occupying the entire first floor of an apartment building. The solar-powered clinic is a spacious, hygienic space, with a laboratory and inpatient beds. Patients who visit the clinic receive thorough consultations and diagnostic laboratory testing, including bacilloscopies, a quick test that detects Hansen’s Disease.

CMMB began supporting Klinik Sen Damien in 2017. At first, treatment for Hansen’s Disease was only available at a distant hospital in Léogâne, Haiti. Patients who received a positive diagnosis at Klinik Sen Damien had no choice but to make a roughly seven-hour roundtrip to obtain medication. For many patients, the cost was more than they could afford.

CMMB paid for patients’ transportation costs in the clinic’s early years. At the same time, we successfully advocated for Haiti’s Ministry of Health to designate Klinik Sen Damien as a treatment center, enabling its staff to not only diagnose but distribute medications to treat. Today, Klinik Sen Damien is the primary referral center for Hansen’s Disease in northern Haiti. Its patients no longer travel long distances to another facility for additional care. With CMMB’s support, the clinic treats patients suffering from Hansen’s Disease and other skin conditions, covering a population that extends across nearly half of the country.

When the patients test positive for Hansen’s Disease, they receive WHO-recommended medications, free of charge. CMMB-supported healthcare professionals also provide one-on-one consultations to help patients better understand the disease and how it is transmitted.

A Legacy of Support for Patients with Hansen’s Disease

Just as our founder did a century ago, CMMB is bringing hope to patients with Hansen’s Disease. CMMB’s advocacy has helped to make Hansen’s Disease a higher priority. Haiti’s health ministry now tracks all cases in its national data. Medications are supplied through established government pipelines, providing patients with faster diagnoses and referrals and free access to treatment.

At the Klinik Sen Damien, a disease that once led to isolation is now treated like any other skin condition. Instead of suffering the sting of stigma, Haiti’s patients are met with compassion and support—and treatment that bring them back to good health.

January 2026 footer.