Visit the virtual exhibition ‘Letter from the Hills: The Invisible Burden of Leprosy’

Leprosy is a curable infectious disease, yet it still affects over 200,000 people each year, with countries like Indonesia heavily impacted. If untreated, it can cause permanent disabilities and serious harm to quality of life. Around 4 million people worldwide live with such disabilities.

Beyond the physical effects, leprosy brings strong stigma and discrimination, limiting access to education, work, and social life – especially in already vulnerable communities.

Through intimate photography, Yoppy Pieter documents the hidden impact of Leprosy in Sumba, highlighting both the challenges people face and their resilience, while helping to raise awareness and reduce stigma. The work of Yoppy Pieter is especially powerful because it goes beyond the medical reality of Leprosy and captures the human side – identity, dignity, and resilience. By focusing on individuals and families in Sumba, the exhibition highlights how stigma can be just as damaging as the disease itself.

Below a link to ‘Letter from the Hills: The Invisible Burden of Leprosy’.