German Leprosy and TB Relief Association

The German Leprosy and TB Relief Association — known in German as DAHW Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe e.V. — is a German charitable non-governmental organisation whose mission is the fight against leprosy, tuberculosis and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It was founded in 1957 in Würzburg under the name "Deutsches Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk" (German Leprosy Relief Association), and in 2003 it was renamed to reflect its expanded focus on tuberculosis while keeping the well-known acronym DAHW. The organisation is headquartered in Würzburg and operates as an international NGO, working through local partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. DAHW's work began with a newspaper report. In 1955, the journalist Franz Graf Magnis and the theology student Richard Recke encountered the French leprosy doctor Dr. Jean Féron during a journey through Ethiopia. Graf Magnis wrote a report titled "Jeden Pfennig für die Aussätzigen" ("Every penny for the lepers"), which triggered a wave of willingness to help in Germany. Around 6,000 kilometres away, in Bisidimo, Ethiopia, a leprosy station was built with support from Würzburg. In 1957, a circle of friends in Würzburg founded the "Aussätzigenhilfswerk Dr. Ferón" at the living-room table of Hermann and Irene Kober in Zell am Main; it was later renamed the "Deutsche Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk" (DAHW). Hermann Kober was the association's first treasurer, served for 30 years as managing board member and was DAHW president from 1994 to 1998. Today DAHW describes itself as going "where the roads end", with teams and partners finding affected people in hard-to-reach areas. According to its own information, it is active in 15 countries on 4 continents and manages around 120 projects, helping people directly or indirectly affected by leprosy, tuberculosis or another neglected tropical disease. Its projects give people with disabilities access to health and rehabilitation services as well as empowerment offerings, under the principle that health is a human right. The organisation also notes that a total of 1.7 billion people need support to lead a life in health and self-determination. Beyond leprosy and tuberculosis, DAHW also treats Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, among other conditions. It acts as an international non-governmental organisation and, according to French Wikipedia, supported 241 projects in 28 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, plus 15 transnational projects such as education and training to fight leprosy and research projects. The association has received the quality label of the German Central Institute for Social Issues. It is a member of the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (BEH) alliance, which publishes the World Risk Report. DAHW is a registered association (eingetragener Verein) and is governed by a board and an supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat) elected by its members.

The origins of the German Leprosy and TB Relief Association lie in a newspaper report. In 1955, during a journey through Ethiopia, the journalist Franz Graf Magnis and the theology student Richard Recke from Würzburg met the French leprosy doctor Dr. Jean Féron. Under the title "Jeden Pfennig für die Aussätzigen" ("Every penny for the lepers"), Graf Magnis wrote a report about this encounter, describing people with swollen "lion faces" and people sliding along dusty roads without hands and feet. Some editors decided "we cannot expect our readers to read something like that", but several other German newspapers printed the report and triggered a wave of willingness to help. Around 6,000 kilometres from Germany, in Bisidimo, Ethiopia, a leprosy station was built with help from Würzburg. German construction workers, together with local helpers, built a centre where leprosy patients received medical care; the surrounding land was to be used for self-sufficiency and workshops were to be set up. In 1957, a circle of friends from Würzburg founded the "Aussätzigenhilfswerk Dr. Ferón" at the living-room table of Hermann and Irene Kober in Zell am Main. The organisation was later renamed the "Deutsche Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk" (DAHW). In the still young Federal Republic of Germany, the registered association received the number 19. Hermann Kober, a journalist from Zell am Main, was the association's first treasurer, served for 30 years as managing board member and was DAHW president from 1994 to 1998. On the occasion of his 100th birthday on 19 October 2024, DAHW remembered its founder. In 1958, project work began: in a remote region of Ethiopia, on the Bisidimo River, development workers from Germany built a leprosy hospital. Franz Söllner, who was there at the time, recalled: "I received much in Ethiopia. Friendliness, gratitude. Accepting one another, giving and receiving, that is our task." The relief organisation began to support further projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 1961, it supported the leprosy doctor Dr. Ruth Pfau, a young doctor and nun who advanced leprosy work in Pakistan. Dr. Ruth Pfau is remembered among the personalities honoured by DAHW, alongside Gerhard Armauer Hansen (discoverer of the leprosy pathogen), Robert Koch (discoverer of the tuberculosis pathogen), Theodor Bilharz (discoverer of the schistosomiasis pathogen), Father Damian, Marianne Cope, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and Albert Schweitzer. In 2003, the organisation changed its name to "Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe" to highlight the fight against tuberculosis as well, while keeping the well-known acronym DAHW. Over more than 60 years, DAHW has grown into an international non-governmental organisation. According to French Wikipedia, it supports 241 projects in 28 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, plus 15 transnational projects such as education and training to fight leprosy and research projects. In 2021 in Senegal, DAHW spent one billion CFA francs. The association has received the quality label of the German Central Institute for Social Issues. Its own website states that it is active in 15 countries on 4 continents and manages around 120 projects, and that it is a member of the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (BEH) alliance. In September 2026, DAHW members elected a new supervisory board at the annual general meeting, and the World Risk Report 2026, published by BEH, highlighted that several DAHW project countries are among those with the highest disaster risk.

• 2026

  New supervisory board elected at the annual general meeting; World Risk Report 2026 published by BEH highlights several DAHW project countries among those with the highest disaster risk.

• 2024

  DAHW remembers founder Hermann Kober on his 100th birthday on 19 October.

• 2003

  Renamed "Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe" to highlight the fight against tuberculosis, keeping the acronym DAHW.

• 1994

  Hermann Kober serves as DAHW president until 1998.

• 1961

  Support for the leprosy doctor Dr. Ruth Pfau, who advanced leprosy work in Pakistan.

• 1958

  Start of project work: development workers from Germany build a leprosy hospital on the Bisidimo River in a remote region of Ethiopia; the relief organisation begins supporting further projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

• 1957

  Founding of the "Aussätzigenhilfswerk Dr. Ferón" at the living-room table of Hermann and Irene Kober in Zell am Main; later renamed "Deutsches Aussätzigen-Hilfswerk" (DAHW).

• 1955

  Journalist Franz Graf Magnis and theology student Richard Recke meet Dr. Jean Féron in Ethiopia; Graf Magnis's report "Jeden Pfennig für die Aussätzigen" triggers a wave of willingness to help in Germany.

International non-governmental charitable organisation fighting leprosy, tuberculosis and other neglected tropical diseases, working through local partners in hard-to-reach areas.

• Leprosy treatment and care

  Diagnosis, treatment and care for people affected by leprosy, including in hard-to-reach areas.

• Tuberculosis control

  Programmes against tuberculosis, caused by mycobacteria and treated with a combination of antibiotics over six to twelve months.

• Neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes

  Treatment of Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and other NTDs.

• Disability and rehabilitation services

  Access to health and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities.

• Inclusion and empowerment

  Offers for self-empowerment and a life without exclusion.

• Education, training and research

  Transnational projects such as education and training to fight leprosy and research projects.

1. 1Deutsche Lepra- & Tuberkulosehilfe e.V. – Gemeinsam gegen Lepra, Tuberkulose und andere vernachlässigte Tropenkrankheitendahw.de
2. 2Geschichte – Deutsche Lepra- & Tuberkulosehilfe e.V.dahw.de
3. 3Es begann 1957 – Meilensteine – Deutsche Lepra- & Tuberkulosehilfe e.V.dahw.de
4. 4Persönlichkeiten – Deutsche Lepra- & Tuberkulosehilfe e.V.dahw.de
5. 5German Leprosy and TB Relief Association – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe – Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org