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Friday, April 11, 2014

Grim footprint Archipelago Leprosy

Grim footprint Archipelago Leprosy

Paul massaging ten fingers . Everything bending stiffness. Her eyes filled with tears , staring at the sun that appear dimmed in the treetops . " Yes , just imagine a child of seven years old , sleeping with the cows when it rains . There was no blanket , or mother to be embraced . "

Decades have passed since Paul curled up in a cowshed . His hair graying . Wrinkles appear around the eyes . He is no longer a little Paul . Herself , the people around him , and happenings that never touched has changed .

" My memory will be times that are not changed . It's here . Always , " said Paul as he clenched his hands in front of his chest . He then looked down , playing dead leaves that fall on the wooden table .

Paul is a former leprosy patients . He was exposed to leprosy since the age of seven years . Paul recalled how he first found the white patches on his skin . " Does not feel pain when pricked . I also had time to apply a balm , it did not feel hot , " the story of Paul .

The year was 1970. Society began to recognize leprosy , but do not understand the ropes . Likewise Paul's parents . The beginning of leprosy affected , Paul hidden in the room . He can not play and meet friends who are visiting distant relatives . He stopped going to school . Paul cut off from the outside world .

One morning , Paul's parents brought the fifth child of six siblings to their rice fields in Tulungagung , East Java . At one edge stood a hut . Paul did not ask any questions . He as already knew this day would come .

All day he was crying alone in the hut . When evening comes and the cold air gradually , Paul wrapped herself in a holster . He felt strong staying overnight in the hut . " But only if it does not rain the night . " Kala thunder began to rumble , he did not hesitate to take a thousand steps .

Paul will come out of the hut , ran over the muddy road climb , then open the door as soon as possible cowshed . Inside the enclosure there are some cows , hay and various utensils. Cowshed was furnished terraces bamboo boards on their edges . That's where Paul was sleeping when it rains . At the top of the steps .

" Ah , yes ... If you remember it , it was ... , " stammered he said , without continuing .

Indonesia has the third highest leprosy cases in the world . According to the Weekly Epidemiological Notes issued by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in August 2013 , Indonesia reported 18 994 cases of leprosy in 2012 . Out of that number , as many as 2,191 new cases among children .

The number of cases of leprosy in Indonesia is down from 2011 . Yet Indonesia remains a country with leprosy patients after India and Brazil .

On one occasion , dr . JP Handoko Soewono , senior specialist dr Leprosy Hospital . Sitanala in Tangerang Indonesia invites similarity Real Time charted three countries in the top position . In the end , ending in a bend of the map estuary : low per capita income .

" The root is the per capita income . Then spread to the supply of nutrients , " said the senior specialist , which accompany old leprosy patients in Lembata , East Nusa Tenggara .

He repeatedly warned , leprosy is not contagious to people with good immune . Mycobacterium leprae - germ that causes leprosy nerve - attack , " is true . " But , not Mycobacterium leprae which causes parts of the body numb to be chipped .

If not promptly treated , long nerve function weakens . The decrease in nerve function resulting in numbness . " Someone so do not feel the pain of the feet , for example , when stepping on something sharp , " said dr . Handoko .

Leprosy Hospital dr . Sitanala , wound leprosy patients in intensive care . Every morning their wounds cleaned , treated , and then re- wrapped to keep it clean from germs . Cure in sight .

But when cured , many former sufferers just do not want to go home . They chose to stay at the Leprosy Hospital dr . Sitanala , Tangerang . They are reluctant to go home , because rejected friends, neighbors , even family . All because leprophobia .

Unreasoning fear of the existence of leprosy patients have for years been settled in Indonesia . Leprophobia , while speculation rages about leprosy spread from mouth to mouth . It was based on incorrect information .

Stigma is spreading fast . Morbus Hansen - lepers , in the language of medicine - considered bringing a curse . People become afraid adjacent to the lepers. Instead of treated , Morbus Hansen actually excommunicated .

That is why WHO inexhaustible remind citizens of the world - especially in the sac - to eradicate the stigma of leprosy will Morbus Hansen . " We need the involvement of all people to reduce stigma and promote social integration for people with leprosy , " the message of WHO in the August 2013 issue of the weekly journal .

That afternoon the rain Neglasari , Tangerang . The sky slowly turned into a soupy . Paul and his wife , Sicilian Suparti , they started clearing the food stalls . Mortar and pestle Paul smoothing scars crushed chili . Sicily wrap the rest of the day selling rice to take home .

There was no lighting in the front of the shop . Bring to a pitch dark surroundings.

Paul realized that their income is often far from expectations . But Paul never gave up . " I believe , God will not let us starve . "

Shelter umbrella , Paul and Sicily running away , jumping over the parapet Leprosy Hospital dr . Sitanala . Heading home .
WSJ

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