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Quy Hoa Central Leprosy and Dermatology Hospital |
Leprosy patients in Quy Hoa leprosy village in Ghenh Rang Ward of Quy Nhon City have found themselves fairy-tale families. Love can be considered as the miraculous remedy helping them forget the disease and live better.
A French Catholic priest Paul Maheure came to Quy Hoa valley and built houses for 30 leprosy patients in 1929. The place has gradually become a hospital for other patients. It was then named Quy Hoa Central Leprosy and Dermatology Hospital in 1999. Scores of patients with leprosy have been treated here for many years, and many of them decided to settle here.
Over 250 patients got married
The leprosy was considered as one of four incurable diseases, and those who get the leprosy were often isolated. They, therefore, came to Quy Hoa to live. Thanks to the mutual understanding, many of them got married.
"I didn't believe that I still live today. At that time, I was isolated and had to come here. The disease was cured but only after getting married to a woman could I feel I came to life again," recalled Nguyen Van Vinh, a 77-year-old patient, living in Quy Hoa for 60 years.
At first, they had only shared and cared together, but they then loved each other and got married two years later in Quy Hoa leprosy village. His family has three generations now, living happily together in Quy Hoa.
Another fairy story is of Nguyen Van Nam. He got the leprosy at the age of 25. He left his village and temporarily lived in a remote District of Khanh Vinh in Khanh Hoa Province. After moving to Quy Hoa, he met Huong, another patient, and they decided to become husband and wife. Other married couples also have the similar circumstance.
Living together, these patients don’t have an inferiority complex about their disease; moreover, the power of love has helped them overcome the disease to live happily.
There are not any accurate statistics for married couples, but more than 230 families include those who are patients being treated here. Many of them became grandparents. Exceptionally, many parents with leprosy had children with no disease. They studied at colleges and universities, and they are now working at the hospital or teaching at primary schools in the Ghenh Rang Ward, according to the head of Charity and Life Board, Tran Cong Nghia.
Also, statistics showed that 120 patients are now from 60 to 88 years old, particularly the 102-year-old patient Huynh Thi Chut.
Build the village together
Quy Hoa leprosy village consists of 326 households, of which 286 married couples and 40 patients' relatives. After 80 years of the establishment, the leprosy treatment center has been expanded. Patients and their relatives have settled here; moreover, they are monthly subsidized.
Despite many difficulties, leprosy patients are well aware of their responsibility. Thanks to benefactors, patients and the local authorities have improved the residential area, making their life better.
Previously, those who came here to cure often stayed in the village, making the village overloaded. The hospital has changed the regulation since 2000. Accordingly, patients will be sent back to their localities after being cured, which partly stabilizes the population in the village.
Patients' children are encouraged to continue studying. There are all grades here, and the number of students is increasing. At present, 40 are students at universities nationwide. Many graduates found their jobs.
Those who couldn't afford to go to schools were sent to study at universities to work for the hospital. The others were trained at vocational training centers with the hope of finding a job, said deputy head of Quy Hoa Central Leprosy and Dermatology Hospital's personnel and administration department, Dang Dinh Ba.
"Many patients' children always try to go to schools, but they still have an inferiority complex owing the isolation. This needs the share of functional bodies and the community," added Nghia.
Quy Hoa leprosy village has been built with the aid of the State, benefactors, and patients. It is happy families that help these patients better themselves.
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