Leprosy mailing list – September 9th,
2006
Ref.: Reorganization
and rehabilitation models for former leprosy colony-hospitals
From: Ahmad
L., Karachi, Pakistan
Dear Salvatore,
I refer to the LML
July 26th, 2006 of Dr de
Pinho Andrade J. E. Sorry
for the delayed response.
Presence of leprosaria in
21st century! It is a surprise. To
answer both the questions together from Dr de Pinho Andrade I would
like to give an example and personal experience about a leprosy slum
which has been transformed into a modern 80 bedded hospital where:
i) outpatient facilities for
leprosy, dermatology, ophthalmology, laboratory, X-Ray,
physiotherpy, pharmacy and a shoe workshop are running well;
ii) a well equipped operation
theatre where ophthalmic surgery, orthopaedics and reconstructive
surgery is performed regularly;
iii) wards are clean and
female ward is air-conditioned;
iv) all the inmate families
from this leprosy slum were given free housing in different
localities, their children were given free education and those who
cleared secondary school examinations were provided with a job at the
centre as leprosy technicians (after a course arranged locally and
certified by govt's board of education). Now the second
generation of such families are also seen working in
the field clinics in every district.
10 years ago I had been
working in this centre as director medical for quite sometime, but
when this transformation was happening I was not there. I have asked present head of
administration to provide data with references. It may take sometime.
As an alternative Dr Andrade
may contact Dr Asfaq Ali < aak@malc.org.pk > for further details.
With regards,
Latif Ahmad
