Order of Malta

WHO WE ARE

CIOMAL (Campagne Internationale de l’Ordre de Malte contre la Lèpre) is a Swiss private law non-profit foundation, which aims to fight leprosy and all forms of exclusion associated with the disease or its disabilities throughout the world.

Initially known as the International Committee of the Order of Malta Against Leprosy – created in Geneva in 1958 following the International Conference for the Defense and Social Rehabilitation of Lepers organized by the Grand Magistry of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Malta – CIOMAL became the CIOMAL Foundation (Campagne Internationale de l’Ordre de Malte contre la Lèpre) on 4 April 1999.

In 1966, CIOMAL was one of the founding members of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP), which brings together 15 organizations involved in the fight against leprosy in 67 countries in order to coordinate their approaches and methods and to determine the coordination responsibilities for each country.

24.09.2020

Cows to keep their head above water

Affected by leprosy and destitute, Lang Ol, Uch Chhim, Yei Mao, and so many others, find themselves in the twilight of their lives alone and without any support, often abandoned by their families. The CIOMAL Foundation seeks to help them retain their dignity. Lang Ol was found three years ago, crouched at the back of […]

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19.09.2019

Detecting New Cases of Leprosy to Curb the Disease

The CIOMAL Foundation has been active in the fight against leprosy in Cambodia for over 25 years. Its work is centered around the early detection of new leprosy cases so that those affected may be treated as soon as the first signs of the disease appear and thus avoid permanent scars. “The most horrible thing […]

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21.06.2019

Newlyweds Standing Up To Prejudice

Soknim and Vanthi both bear the scars of leprosy and decided to hold a beautiful wedding in order to be fully accepted by their community. On a beautiful but sweltering day in April, Soknim and Vanthi arrived at the Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Center in Phnom Penh. They came to invite the CIOMAL staff to their […]

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09.04.2019

Beauty Contestants Show No Fear or Blame In The Face of Leprosy

For the 66th World Leprosy Day, the CIOMAL Foundation organised an open house morning in Phnom Penh on 30th January. Two hundred visitors joined the event, including university students and professors, representatives of national and international org anisations, as well as about one hundred people affected by leprosy. Opened in 2000 on the island situated […]

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