The Indian Express            21.08.2013

Cured, they now ‘live’ & ‘work’ at BMC’s only leprosy hospital

Leading the charge are some of the 45 leprosy patients who have been cured, but continue to live and work in the hospital in various capacities. From a centre to treat leprosy patients, the hospital has now become a home for the cured.

The 240-bed hospital has 94 patients at present.

According to the medical superintendent, Dr Amita Pednekar, the cured patients continue to live in the hospital after their families refused to accept them back. "The myth, in rural areas especially, that cured leprosy patients are also contagious, has resulted in the families shunning their own members. Now these cured patients not only live here, but also do menial work like sweeping, serving food, taking calls as operators and administering medicines to other patients in the hospital," said Pednekar.

A 52-year-old patient, who was an electrician before he contracted the disease, has been living in the hospital for the past three years. He now fixes electrical problems in the hospital.

Another 60-year-old patient, who has been living in the hospital since 1985, considers the hospital his only home. "I administer medicines to other patients, and every year, I monitor the decorations for Ganesh Chaturthi," he said, his crooked hands busy decorating an idol.

The hospital's only nurse, Meghna Sawant, has been looking after the patients single-handedly for the past six years. "My job is easy. There are no active leprosy patients. From 8.30 am to 3.30 pm, I take rounds in wards, keep a check on old patients and monitor everything. Despite being old, the patients do their work on their own," she said.

According to Sawant, 45 patients who are working here get paid a few hundred rupees each as "pocket money" by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

There are six wards in the hospital of which two are reserved for women.

Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is a contagious disease characterised by long incubation period (six months to 5 years or more) followed by skin sores, nerve damage and muscle weakness.

"However, with multi-drug therapy, the patients are cured within a year. Although they remain deformed, they are no more contagious. But even those who are cured face so much social stigma that they prefer to spend the rest of their lives in the hospital," said Pednekar.

A 68-year-old patient engaged in all kinds of activities at the hospital, from taking phone calls at the reception to sweeping, has been living here for 35 years. Recently, when his family asked him to return, he declined, saying the hospital was now his home.