July 7, 1998
WE CARE Sister Mater Lean chats with wheelchair-bound patient Pa Petnate, 70, in Phud Hong village in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Through the work of the Phud Hong Leper Foundation and Catholic nuns from Thailand and the Philippines, the lives of leprosy patients have changed for the better. --Pictures by Somkid Chaijitvanit Faith, hope and charity Twenty-four years ago the Bangkok Post published an article on the plight of Phud Hong Leper Colony. With readers' donations and faith in a better future, a new hope was born Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan Sopha Wannawake remembers well how scared and embarrassed she was as a child telling her teachers and classmates that she lived in Phud Hong Leper Colony. Now in her 30s, Sopha also can't forget how tired she felt having to walk several kilometres from school back home each day since the bus driver refused to stop at her village. "The driver and other passengers were afraid that some lepers would get into the bus if they stopped at Phud Hong," says Ms Sopha who can now laugh at the social stigma she suffered in the past. Back three decades or so, Nakhon Si Thammarat's Phud Hong Leper Colony was not a name people elsewhere recognised. And those who knew what it meant did not want to talk about it. Meanwhile, the government officials in charge just neglected it. "The place was in very poor overall condition. Many leper patients were without proper medical care," recalls Sopha who was a little girl then. Living in Phud Hong was like a curse for Sopha and other youngsters like her. Her parents, both of whom used to have leprosy, could not afford to send her to school so they lived on a meagre government allowance and a little extra cash from growing vegetables. "I almost quit school then. I felt disappointed because nobody was there to help us or to give us a chance to have future," she says. Fortunately, young Sopha's desperation did not last long. In the mid-1970s, help from the Phud Hong Leper Foundation established by the Bangkok Post came just in time. Sopha was awarded a scholarship to continue her education through to high school level. These days, apart from having a small vegetable farm of her own, she works as a paid staff member at the community clinic. It is not only young Sopha who has benefitted from the charity. Within a couple of years of its establishment, the lives of everyone in the Phud Hong leper community changed for the better. Despite their disabilities, most of the ex-lepers are able to support themselves economically today. And those patients who need regular medical care live in a clinic equipped with basic medical facilities. The children and grandchildren of the patients attend the community nursery or kindergarten. Meanwhile, older children are supported financially to further their education. "My children don't have the inferiority complex I once had. They can now tell their classmates they are from Phud Hong," says Sopha with a proud smile. But 24 years ago, smiles were rarely seen on the faces of Phud Hong residents. They were starving on the day the Post reporter, Sumit Hemasathol, visited the little-known leper colony in Ron Phibun district, 30 kilometres from the town of Nakhon Si Thammarat. In the atmosphere of neglect and decay, he found some 225 lepers and their dependents living in deplorable conditions. Their meagre food allowance of five baht per day had been cut earlier that year. The colony's administration building was in danger of collapse, while the dusty office was deserted. The dispirited officials had left after signing the attendance record and no one was there to mind the shop. Mr Sumit returned to Bangkok and wrote a heart-rending account of what he had seen in that rundown place without a future. The story was published in the Post on July 12, 1974. It touched the hearts of many readers and offers of help poured in from all over Thailand and abroad. Soon after that, the Bangkok Post held a meeting and decided to establish a fund to handle all the donations. The late Post founder, Mr Prasit Lulitanond, agreed to accept the job as chairman of the fund. When the establishment of the Phud Hong Fund was announced, the response was overwhelming. More than 90,000 baht was collected on the first day alone. Moved by the story of the suffering of the Phud Hong inmates, Joy Robert donated her life savings of 343 baht, no small sum for a 12-year-old girl. Within two weeks, cash contributions had reached 200,000 baht. The Bangkok Post team then headed down South to see what the most pressing needs of the Phud Hong villagers were. Through cost-effective means, they improved the community's infrastructure with cooperation from the government and private sectors. This included building a reservoir, installing a permanent supply of water, and providing eletricity. With donations still pouring in steadily, the Bangkok Post decided to register the fund as a foundation, and the Phud Hong Leper Foundation was born in 1983. "Our life has changed dramatically since Khun Phor Prasit and his team came to us," says an old women in her 60s who lost both of her legs to leprosy over 30 years ago. Under the leadership of Mr Prasit Lulitanond, the foundation set up a daycare centre and kindergarten for the children of the ex-lepers who went out to work. Scholarships are also awarded to older children. Meanwhile, school drop-outs were able to attend vocational training courses where skills like sewing, weaving and word processing are taught free-of-charge. Funded by Phud Hong Leper Foundation and several foreign organisations, the programmes are administered by Thai and Filipino Catholic nuns. "Through these educational programmes and scholarships, we've tried to give them moral support. For example, primary students will come to us every morning for their daily food allowance. I always take this chance to tell them to be good," explains Sister Mater Lean who has been in charge of the educational and welfare programmes for Phud Hong villagers for several years. Last year 144 children received scholarships from the foundation. Nearly half of them are studying at Mathayom level. Over the last 30 years, Phud Hong has changed from being a deplorable leper colony to a productive community. The nuns are also careful to ensure that the children do not contract the disease of their parents and grandparents. A nun who was trained as a nurse and two other paramedics provide basic healthcare. Meanwhile, those with serious illnesses are taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. "Leprosy is not as terrifying as people often think. It's a curable disease and not easily contracted. With proper medical treatment and sanitary care, permanent disability can also be prevented," said Sister Mater. Currently, there are four Catholic nuns from the Daughters of Charity working in the Phud Hong Leper Colony. Two are Filipino and two are Thai. They are also assisted by a few villagers hired as paid staff. Their weekly duties include a visit and chit-chat the Phud Hong residents. "Some lepers ask me why I have a fine complexion whereas their skin is mottled and ugly with ulcers. I hold their hand and tell them appearance is not important. What really matters for me is here, your heart," the nun says, putting her hand on her chest. Via the educational programmes and informal talks, the Catholic sisters try to boost the self-esteem of the lepers and their families. Over the years, a gradual change in attitude can be seen, a deeper sense of self-confidence. In the near future, it is hoped this will motivate the whole community to be more self-reliant and productive, says Sister Mater. Take Lek Saengpratheeptawee for example. Over three decades ago, the middle-aged woman lost one leg and a few fingers to leprosy. She used to live off charity like others in Phud Hong. But 12 years ago, she asked for a 20,000-baht loan from the foundation to start her own farming business. "It's like a twist of fate. With an artificial leg, I can walk by myself. With help and moral support from the foundation, I can stand on my own two feet," says Lek, now 54. Her plant nursery and mushroom farm are going well. Lek and her husband live in a nice one-storey house with a lovely garden in the front. Her four children have started their own families. One is a teacher, another a nurse, while the other two work in factories. Lek is one of the success stories of Phud Hong, but many lepers and their families are still struggling with their disability and economic hardship. There are some 300 families comprising about 700 people living in Phud Hong now. Most of younger people work in the cities while some of the older people have small farms in or near the colony. "Now we are trying to make them more self-reliant. We don't give free medicine, free food or free clothes anymore. They have to contribute something, though the sum might be as little as one baht," said Sister Mater. The money collected will be spent on maintaining and improving village facilities like installing a water tank and generator. "Some of the villagers have complained about this new practice. But I think it's time to do so. Budgets and donations are dwindling each year. Now we rarely receive financial help from overseas organisations," said the nun. Sister Mater and the other social workers now pay more attention to the existing and incoming leper patients who live in the clinic. Currently, there are 29 patients, most of whom are elderly men. Four new cases were admitted this year. Several patients have been living in the clinic for years because they do not have any relatives in or outside the community. One of the female patients living in the clinic is Pa Petnate, aged 70. Confined to a wheelchair due to her handicap, she has been there for seven years. "I have no relatives. I feel happier living here because I can have a chit-chat with others," says the old woman. Apart from comfortable accommodation, the patients are provided with food, medicine and general healthcare. Those with ulcers are treated twice a day. "In the morning and evening I will lead the patients to do a little exercise. Then they are free to do things on their own. Some might listen to music, watch TV or read books and newspapers," explained staff worker Sopha Wannawake. Phud Hong recently admitted the youngest leper patient from Trang province. Her name is Joy. She is only 13 years old. "Her mother asked us to take her in because she is poor and cannot afford to treat Joy," says Sister Mater. Joy is much smaller than other girls her age. Without nutrition and living in unsanitary conditions, she was infected with the disease. Two patients prepare dressings in the Phud Hong clinic were inmates are encouraged to be self-reliant and help each other. "We take good care of Joy and she's now getting better. But due to our limited budget and staff, we don't have many activities for her. She doesn't dare to play with other children because of the ulcers all over her body," says Ms Sopha. "But I try to talk with her as time allows. We hope that she will recover soon so that she can return to her family." The father figure of Phud Hong Leper Colony, the Post's Mr Prasit, was quoted many times as saying: "I was helping to feed one of the children at lunchtime, then I noticed that the next child was looking at me, so I fed her too. At this point, the third burst into tears, so I ended up having to feed most of the children at the table!" Mr Prasit passed away last year. On the verge of the new millennium, leprosy in Thailand has nearly been wiped out. And the Phud Hong residents still feel grateful to the Bangkok Post readers who changed their lives. From a deplorable leper colony 30 years ago, Phud Hong is now a place which the residents are proud to call home. "Several leprosy patients told me they wish to die here at Phud Hong," says Sister Mater. "For them, this is where they can always count on love and care until their last days." Info for Donations: - Name of organisation: Phud Hong Leper Foundation - Address: Bangkok Post, 136 Na Ranong Road, Off Sunthorn Kosa Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. - Contact person: Mr Anussorn Thaveesin and Ms Marayart Prachumraksa - Tel: 240-3700 ext 1203 - Fax: 240-3790-1 - Savings account name: Phud Hong Leper Foundation - Savings account number: 218-0-13367-6 - Bank name and branch: Bangkok Bank, Sunthorn Kosa Branch Please send or fax the deposit slip to the above address so that the foundation can issue every donor a receipt. Alternatively, you can contact Sister Mater Lean directly at Don Bosco Development Centre, PO Box 13, Ron Phibun District, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80130. Tel: (075) 441-133.		Classifieds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Special We Care Street Art Back Issues Last Month Archive Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
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