Present situation of the Margo Mulyo I settlement (2003).
The settlement was erected in 1987, on 250 hectares of land with the aim to settle down ex-leprosy patients from the Sitanala Leprosy Village (Desa Serba Guna) and from the domicile ex-leprosy patients. The settlement is located about 10 km away from the Sungai Kundur Leprosy Hospital. There were 100 couples ex-leprosy patients from Desa Serba Guna had been transferred by Sitanala Leprosy Hospital within the resettlement programme.
Unfortunately, the re-settlement programme has not succeed. After one year all inhabitants of the settlement has left the settlement. Some of them back to Desa Serba Guna Tangerang, some moved to another places such as to Padamaran subdistrict of OKI district. The main reason of moved out was that the settlement has a very poor water supply, the land was not good for growing plantations.
From observation, there is no signboard indicates the settlement, there is no more house here, only bush and coarse grass. Luckily we could meet one of the ex-leprosy patients who now live within the normal village about 6 km away from the ex-settlement. The following is his story.
I was borne in Pekan Baru Riau in 1947. When I was 36 years old, I got sick with some patches on my face and left hand which were not itching, and had no sensation. I went to Pekan Baru general hospital for consultation. The doctor told me that I have leprosy and suggested me to go to Sitanala Tangerang for further treatment. I went to Sitanala and I was admitted in 1984. One day I got lepra reaction. My disease become worse, and my fingers become clawed.
After 1 year hospitalization my disease was declared cured and I was transferred to Leprosy Village (Desa Serba Guna) surrounding the Sitanala Leprosy Hospital.
In 1985 I left Sitanala and I went to Leprosy Village surrounding the Sungai Kundur Leprosy Hospital. I was accepted here without any condition. In 1987, there was a resettlement programme carried out by the Sitanala LeprosyHospital. Ex-patients from leprosy village (Desa Serba Guna Sitanala) will be transferred to Margo Mulyo I in South Sumatera and Margo Mulyo II in Banten. The domicile ex-leprosy patients also selected and can be included in the programme.
I myself live with my family in Leprosy Village Sungai Kundur. Before I get leprosy I had married in Riau and have 3 healthy children. When I heard the re-settlement programme, I made a proposal to be included myself. My proposal was accepted, then in 1987 I with my family joined the resettlement in Margo Mulyo I. We got one house and land to be cultivated. It was a fact that the land was so poor, we could not cultivated it with paddy or other plantations with good results. The water supply was also very poor. After one year, we could not stand with this situation. We decided to move to another place here. Now we live better here, we grow coconut plantations on 8.5 hectares of land. At present I have also a private business. We have self-reliant, we don’t want to go to another places anymore.
