BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LEPROSY MISSION (AUST) - 6
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PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL, SALUR:- This is one of the three hospitals owned and operated by TLM in the Vizianagaram district of
northern Andhra Prradesh , India. The others are at Vizianagaram itself, where there is also a Vocational Training Centre opened by Mr.
Ian Milne in 1995 and at Parvatipuram. A fourth centre at Kurupam is now closed as the declining number of patients no longer justifies
its continuance. The Vizianagram district (pop.2.3 million) once had a leprosy prevalence rate of 132 per 10,000 but since the introduction
of Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) the rate is around 5 cases per 10,000. However, the incidence of new cases has only fallen from 7.99 per
10,000 to 3.9 per 10,000. A lot of emphasis is now being placed on the Community Awareness Project to ensure that the case-finding
will continue as survey and clinic programmes become uneconomical. Salur has recognised specialities in eye surgery and the provision
of special footwear and prosthetic devices. It is also a major training centre for physiotherapy technicians, nurses and laboratory and
paramedical workers. The original hospital, begun by German Lutheran missionaries in 1906, was situated 2 Kms. beyond the present
town boundary, but, during the late 1960's a new campus was established in the town, on land held by the Lutheran Church. The town
has a population of about 55,000. The local language is Telugu, which is the usual language of Andhra Pradesh. There are 550 tribal
communities in the district, speaking a variety of languages, but most have some Telugu. Generally, people with more than
elementary education, know some English and a few are extremely fluent. Educational levels in the district are poor and only about 35%
of men and 20% of women have any literacy.
This was the centre in which the TEEN MISSION KIDS gained first hand experience in just what it is like to be a staff member in
such a situation. Apart from accompanying clinic teams on surveys, helping in clinics and meeting with patients in their homes, the
Team did the same with their own hands - (1) Whitewashed the entire hospital, (2) Poured the foundations for a new building which will
enable the artificial Limb Centre to be moved to a new campus from its position 2 Kms. away on the original hospital site, (3) Laid a new
reinforced concrete floor in one of the staff cottages, (4) Rebuilt the walls of the generator building making it ready for a new roof.
Items 2 to 4 involved working with local tradesmen, and, despite the barriers of language, the team members co-operated well,
enjoyed the experience and earned considerable respect for their hard work in hot and trying conditions.
CONCLUSIONS AND PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:- The experiment was generally worthwhile because:-
(1) It introduced a number of young people, and hopefully their families and churches, to TLM for the first time.
(2) Participants from families and churches already supportive of TLM will have greater insight into the Mission. Every
participant expressed admiration for the personal care being shown to the patients.
(3) The participants have encountered, at first hand, some of the material, social and spiritual needs of the world's largest
democracy .
(4) Each member had at least some opportunity to appreciate the quality of the life and work of an Indian Christian community
(5) TLM staff at Salur were encouraged by the discipline and commitment of young Christians from another culture.
(6) The generosity of the team was a great boost to the Vocational Training Centre at Vizianagaram
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During the year, Stuart Brown, National Director for T.L.M. (Aust.), on his way to attend the International Executive Meeting in
London, stopped over in Thailand to visit the McKean Rehabilitation Centre at Chiang Mai, also centres in Miraj and Belgaum, in India.
Recognition was made of the splendid service rendered by Dr. Grace Warren. It was in the form of a Honorary Life Membership.
In expressing its appreciation, TLM issued the following statement in February 1997:-
Dr. A. GRACE WARREN - A.M., M..S., F.R.C.S., F.R.A.C.S., D.T.M.H., (Syd)
To do justice to an accurate profile of Dr. Grace Warren, is, indeed, a daunting task. Her years of service, string of qualifications,
teaching and lecturing record across the world, her research work, list of degrees and awards, and on-going services as
Advisor / Consultant to not only many hospitals in Australia, but internationally, make a formidable record. She is a lady who has brought
to her work the Love and Compassion of a dedicated Christian, a staff member of whom The Leprosy Mission is both proud and most
thankful to God. Dr. Grace Warren commenced with The Leprosy Mission in 1959 and served for 31 years before officially retiring in 1990.
Originally based at Hay Ling Chau government hospital in Hong Kong, Dr. Grace was soon appointed to Medical Superintendent / Surgeon of the hospital and taught medical students and paramedical workers from South-East Asian countries. She was involved in research and the improvement of treatment methods, both medical and surgical, that would be used in many Third-World countries.
In 1975, Dr. Grace was transferred to central Thailand. Leprosy had been brought under control in Hong Kong and the Hay Ling Chau hospital closed. She continued In-Service teaching programmes in about 10 Asian countries. She taught all clinical aspects of leprosy, including diagnosis, management, reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation, to hospital staff at all levels.
She has lectured at many medical schools and other tertiary institutions internationally and has, on occasions, had input
into the determination of future policies regarding management of leprosy in these countries. From 1963, she was appointed advisor in Leprosy and Reconstructive surgery for The Leprosy Mission International in Asia.
She has attended and participated in many conferences and written over 30 articles on leprosy related subjects. She has received acclaim internationally for her practicality and skill. Dr. Grace Warren was made a Member of the Order of Australia (A.M.) in the Honours List, January 1986. She was awarded Doctor of Medicine, Honoris Causa, by the University of Sydney and Hunterian Professor by the Royal College of Surgeons of England 1987 / 88
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This year, many churches and other support groups were greatly encouraged by a number of overseas staff who were able
to visit Australia. These included Betty Cunnington, Doctors Des and Wendy Soares, Myra Ronalds, Deidre Cornish-Browne, Margaret Mead and Dr. Nathan Zweck.
TLM Australian Auxiliary has been privileged to share in TLM International outreach into China, a report, verbatim, of which follows in TLM Int.'s
"PUBLICITY * RELEASE - CHINA FOCUS" :-
Phase 2 of the China Project shows positive results. With only one year to go before the second phase of our involvement in the Chinese Leprosy Rehabilitation project comes to an end, Jean Watson and Alan Gray travelled to China in June. The purpose of their visit was to see how the work is progressing and to help evaluate the direction of the work in the final months in the light of the positive results already being shown in many provinces.
Since the start of a pilot project in 1990, The Leprosy Mission has been supporting the Chinese Government in their work in 14 provinces. The programme's main objectives are to find and treat people affected by leprosy who have impairments, and to help those people prevent further impairments occurring. People more seriously affected, with disabilities, are also being helped to overcome any difficulties they might have. The results are due to be presented at the ILA Congress in Beijing in September 1998.
Many of the provinces involved have recorded significant decreases in wound rates. Ten years ago, very little prevention of disability was practiced in China at all; now, in 14 provinces and at a national level, there are doctors who have learned how to prevent deformity. There is access to Prednisolone and each province has records and a trying to reduce the wound incident rate. The impact has been tremendous, not just in the project area, but in the whole of China. Many people affected by leprosy have leaned that they can improve and get better.
However, the staff now aim to tackle some of the more deep-rooted problems. Stigma remains high in China, and a diagnosis of leprosy places great strain on families. Visible deformity and stigma cause most of the problems faced by leprosy-affected people as communities believe that, if you have a wound, you are not cured. A high percentage of people affected by leprosy, both those on treatment and those who have completed treatment, choose to live in leprosy hospitals or leprosy villages, even though outpatient treatment is offered. Hospitals do not have the stigma that a community would have, so most patients choose to go "out of sight" in a hospital, to save their families from the stigma. One of the needs, in this final phase, is to train good communicators to help the community overcome their fears.
The staff will also concentrate on accurately pinpointing those people affected by leprosy with impairment likely to affect them socially. A person with an impairment which does not bother him or his community and does not affect his work, need not concern The Prevention of Disability POD staff - but a young girl of marriageable age, with insensitive feet, needs to be protected from developing deformity which may cause her to suffer the effects of stigma within her community. She will need regular check-ups to ensure that she is wearing protective shoes, that she does not have job which could cause wounds, and that she knows how to look after her feet, etc.. It is this kind of problem-solving that government staff have made their aim in the final stages of this project.
China has a high percentage of eye problems amongst people affected by leprosy, and eye care has a high priority now for the Ministry of Public Health. Tai Xing Hospital sees many of these patients, and Margaret Brand and others have assisted with the Eye Care Programme and Surgery.
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