Kuala Keretau Barat Leprosy Colony after tsunami. The original name of the leprosaria is Kuala Keretau Lepra, then changed to Kuala Keretau Barat.
Kuala Keretau is located at Kemukiman Mayang, Jerat, Kecamatan Tanah Pasir. It is about 25 KM from Lhoksemawe the capital of Aceh Utara district.
There is no documents found about the leprosy colony. The history of leprosy colony was stated based on the interview with Mr. Tengku M. Yusuf.
Leprosy colony was built by Dutch. The land was provided by the government. Housing and living cost were provided by Dutch. During Japanese occupation the living costs were continued. People said that during that time Japanese issued a very strict regulation. Leprosy patients were not allowed to go out and normal people were not allowed to go in to the leprosy colony. They built wall around the leprosy colony.
After the Indonesia Independence the Leprosy colony was handed over to Wedana Lhoksemawe. The leprosy colony was opened, integrated to normal people. There were 35 couples with 42 inhabitants. All of them were (ex)leprosy patients. Since 1965 the government did not provide living cost any more. Some of them left the leprosy colony some of them died. It was recorded the number leprosy patients decreased to 15 patients.
During President Soeharto period, the government provided ration in a packet form consist of rice, coffee, tea, sugar, salty fish, soap, and cocking oil. The number of patients and healthy people were increased in the leprosarium.
Majority of the people did not like to stay in the former leprosy colony anymore, but for them must be sure that the remaining land and garden post tsunami should be belonged to them. They like to live at Ketapang which is about 2 KM from the leprosy colony because the people there accept them. Now all inhabitants from Kula Keretau Barat are staying at new Barracks built by the government.
During the visit time, there were no normal people staying at the barracks. All of them are inhabitants from Kuala Keretau Barat. Some of the people from Kuala Keretau Barat are staying in the new Barracks.
Some of them said that they are boring staying in the barrack, especially women. They get donation from the government same with other IDPs. The men used to go for fishing and women doing floor mats.
Kuala Keretau is located at Kemukiman Mayang, Jerat, Kecamatan Tanah Pasir. It is about 25 KM from Lhoksemawe the capital of Aceh Utara district.
There is no documents found about the leprosy colony. The history of leprosy colony was stated based on the interview with Mr. Tengku M. Yusuf.
Leprosy colony was built by Dutch. The land was provided by the government. Housing and living cost were provided by Dutch. During Japanese occupation the living costs were continued. People said that during that time Japanese issued a very strict regulation. Leprosy patients were not allowed to go out and normal people were not allowed to go in to the leprosy colony. They built wall around the leprosy colony.
After the Indonesia Independence the Leprosy colony was handed over to Wedana Lhoksemawe. The leprosy colony was opened, integrated to normal people. There were 35 couples with 42 inhabitants. All of them were (ex)leprosy patients. Since 1965 the government did not provide living cost any more. Some of them left the leprosy colony some of them died. It was recorded the number leprosy patients decreased to 15 patients.
During President Soeharto period, the government provided ration in a packet form consist of rice, coffee, tea, sugar, salty fish, soap, and cocking oil. The number of patients and healthy people were increased in the leprosarium.
During President Abdurrahman Wahid period, the ration was changed to money. Each leprosy patient gets Rp 10,000 per month. At the Tanah Pasir Health Center, it was recorded 219 inhabitants in 2004. Before tsunami there were 27 leprosy patients. After tsunami, it was recorded 47 couples consist of 156 inhabitants among them 11 are leprosy patients. Based on this figure there were 63 people died or lost, amongst them 16 are leprosy patients.
Majority of the people did not like to stay in the former leprosy colony anymore, but for them must be sure that the remaining land and garden post tsunami should be belonged to them. They like to live at Ketapang which is about 2 KM from the leprosy colony because the people there accept them. Now all inhabitants from Kula Keretau Barat are staying at new Barracks built by the government.
During the visit time, there were no normal people staying at the barracks. All of them are inhabitants from Kuala Keretau Barat. Some of the people from Kuala Keretau Barat are staying in the new Barracks.
Some of them said that they are boring staying in the barrack, especially women. They get donation from the government same with other IDPs. The men used to go for fishing and women doing floor mats.
