A WIDESPREAD SCOURGE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21907, 7 October 1936, Page 14

A WIDESPREAD SCOURGE

LEPROSY STILL PERSISTS

WORK ON MAKOGAI ISLAND

Qne of the oldest diseases—mention of it was made in Egyptian, Indian and Chinese writings from the earliest times—leprosy still persists in some parts of the world. Indeed, in some countries, notably Abyssinia, fee-dis-ease has actually been spreading during 'the last few decades. It was not until the last century that it made its appearance in the south Pacific, New Zealand itself is not wholly immune, although it is only very rarely that cases occur in the Dominion. The last known case of leprosy in the British Isles was in the Orkneys, but the disease still lingers in Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece—among the warmer European countries—and also in Germany and France, and in RuSsia, Norway and even Iceland. Africa and India are the countries where leprosy exists on a comparatively large scale. In India, the percentage of those afflicted is one in 2000, but in the Belgian Congo approximately 10 per cent, of the population are lepers. New Zealand’s Quota There is no fear of the disease ever gaining a hold in New Zealand, although of course if the rare cases which do occur in the Dominion from infection contracted abroad, were not promptly segregated, no one in the country would be safe. Until 1925, New Zealand lepers were kept on Quail Island in Lyttelton Harbour. Since then they have been sent to .Makogai Island in the Fiji group, along with such cases as occur in New Zealand’s island dependencies. Of the 580 lepers at present on the island, 100 are from New Zealand and dependencies. Apart from the superintendent and his assistant, the medical work at Makogai is done by 26 nurses, of whom 15 are white. They are nursing sisters of the Roman Catholic Church, giving their lives to this task, and Makogai has a special claim upon the goodwll of New Zealanders of all denominations. It will be readily appreciated that tokens of remembrance and sympathy from the outside world are of great value to the unfortunate inhabitants of leper stations. The medical superintendent'of Makogai has often stated that the good wishes and gifts which New Zealanders have been making every Christmas for some years past mean so much in the lives of the afflicted, and it is anticipated that this year’s appeal will again meet with a ready response.