Cured leprosy patient still lives with stigma

Cured leprosy patient still lives with stigma

Marudin, 28, a former leprosy patient from Semper, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta says that he prefers to live in the ex-lepers village than return home.

Apart from the fact he can no longer work, he says, he does not want make things difficult for his family.

"I feel free here," says Marudin who was taken to the hospital in 1993 and was cured from leprosy in 1995.

"My former neighbors ostracized me," says Marudin, who does all kinds of work at the hospital from helping other patients wash their clothes to taking them to the bathroom. He also cooks and cleans the floors.

Three years ago he married 30-year old Evi, a former leprosy patient from Jembatan Lima, West Jakarta.

The couple live in Bulak village and rent a room for Rp 50,000 a month. They have no children but they look like any other happy couple.

According to the hospital deputy director, Handoko Soewono, the declining number of leprosy patients was thanks to the Ministry of Health's Leprosy Elimination Control Program at puskesmas (community health service) level.

When he first came to the hospital in 1987, he said, there were 550 beds in total and all were occupied. In 1995, only 250 beds were occupied and now, only 70 beds are occupied.

A total of 27 ex-lepers have become permanent occupants of two bangsal jompo (wings) of the complex.

The hospital had not discharged them because they had no families to go to.

To make use of the hospital's facilities, it opened its door to the public in 1997. Neighboring residents have been the main beneficiaries.

Plans to turn the hospital into a national emergency disaster institute have been envisioned, but Handoko is not sure when the plans will become a reality. -- Multa Fidrus