LEPROSY SCOURGE
MELANESIAN PROBLEM Endeavur To Secure Special Island One of the big problems which has to he met. by workers in the Melanesian mission territory is that of leprosy among the natives, and every endeavour is being made to prevent the spread of the disease and to effect the cure of as many as possible of the sufferers. Reference to the leprosy question •was made by the Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley, Bishop of Melanesia, who is at present in Christchurch. Bishop Baddeley said that there were many lepers on one of the islands. Mala, which had a population of 40,000. Some years ago the mission doctor got into touch with a good number of the lepers in the territory, and about ninety were looked after in a temporary leprosorium. and others were in touch with the doctor and called as outpatients for injections.
But the whole trouble was that, as far as those who came as inpatients were concerned, there was no compulsion. Such patients were always desirous of walking about, and the new medical man. Dr James, of Dunedin, felt that such a position was not satisfactory, and that a far better plan would be to establish a leprosorium in a place not so easy of access. At the same time it was desired that such a place should not be a prison, but a spot where people could be segregated and. by treatment, have good hopes of a cure. Disputed Ownership. “We have been trying to acquire the island of Bassakanna off the north coast of Mala, and' negotiations for the purchase have been very much protracted because of disputed native ownership.” the Bishop added. “However. I am expecting to hear any day now that the Government has disestangled the dispute, and that we are to have the island on a long lease.” There was in hand a sum of nearly £2OOO, contributed by friends ip England, Australia, and New Zealand for the putting up of permanent buildings in the way of wards and dispensary, but, of course, maintenance was going to be a big problem. The Government. had promised to give an annual grant, but the mission would probably need as additional income about £5OO a year it the job was to be done properly. At the present mission hospital many lepers were being given treatment hut it was obvious that the sooner a leprosorium was established and the sufferers segregated the better. The idea was not to establish an institution, but to make an island community of Bassakanna. where lepers and their wives could live in small houses. The cost of many of the houses would be met out of the £2OOO. By the establishment of such a community it was hoped that the lepers would be able to carry on their normal life while at the same time under treatment and supervision. Of course, special provision would have to be made for children, but that depended on developments and on the extent of the financial backing.
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Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 421, 30 April 1937, Page 6
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503LEPROSY SCOURGE Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 421, 30 April 1937, Page 6
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