Saparua leprosy colony (Waehenahea Leprosarium)
Address: Perkampungan Kusta Waehenahea, Kec Saparua, Kab. Maluku Tengah.
The leprosy colony is located 3 km away from Saparua town the capital of the Sub-district.
It was erected in 1950 at 4 hectares of land. According to record at clinic, it was stated that total patients registered for treatment in the leprosy colony 259 in 1953, 368 in 1969 and 388 in 1975. Since the introduction of MDT, many patients had been declared cured and back to their home towns. Year by year the patients was reduced and no more new admission to the leprosy colony since 1990. At present the Leprosy colony has been identified as a normal village, inhabited by 8 ex-leprosy patients. None of healthy people stay with them in the leprosy colony. Administratively the leprosy colony is similarly to a normal village (100% integration). The ex-patients houses were clustered within a normal village. The former leprosy clinic has been changed to a church with one room is provided for simple clinic. The church are used by the people surrounding and the ex-leprosy patients. During our visit, the normal people from surrounding and the ex-leprosy patients were praying together in the church in commemoration of the Christmas event.
Since 1990, the ex-leprosy patients did not get donation from the government anymore. They have been in self-reliant condition. The resources of their income are from cultivating the land, selling fruits and vegetables in Saparua market, from their family and some time get donation from the church. There were 8 ex-leprosy patients within 5 couples. Only ex-leprosy patients living in the leprosy colony. Their healthy children were living with their relatives out side of the leprosy colony.
