15m Lepers Still In Need Of Help

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 10

15m Lepers Still In Need Of Help

The Mission to Lepers, a world-wide Protestant organisation which entirely maintains 28 big leper colonies and contributes to the Work of 60 others, is seeking £120.000 in its annual appeal in New Zealand. Last year £lOO.OOO was sought and £103.000 was given. The North Canterbury and Mid-Canterbury quota in this year's appeal is £3500 and so far £1950 has been contributed The area secretary is Miss M. Titheridge. 151 Mays road, Christchurch. The Dominion secretary (the Rev. Murray Feist) said yesterday that a recent international survey showed that there were now 15 million lepers in the world. Registered cases in South-east Asia alone totalled 565.984, there were 15.821 in the north and east Pacific, and 3785 in the south Pacific, the last being largely the area covered by the separate New Zealand Leper Trust Board.

“The most alarming feature is the extent of leprosy still untreated in our ‘near north.* ** said Mr Feist. “There are well over half a million cases in South-ees: Asia and in the north and east Pacific and treatment is available to a very small proportion of them so far.’* For this reason, Mr Feist said, the Mission to Lepers headquarters in London had agreed that, from next year, the attack on the disease in these areas should be a special responsibilty of New Zealand. Apart from funds set aside for the world-wide purposes of the mission. New Zealand contributions would go towards extending services in these areas. “In the last year, stations of our mission recorded 9000 cures out of the 100.000 under treatment Last year was the first time that patients treated

in our leprosy colonies and in out-patients’ clinics passed the 100.000 mark,’* said Mr Feist. ‘"This was an increase of 29,000 on the 1959 figure. The most striking increase was in out-patients, who Increased from 61.600 to 87.600 “In India and Pakistan alone, last year more than 7000 were cleared of the disease." said Mr Feist. “There were more than 800 children m homes owned or aided by the mission for protection from their parents’ leprosy. A significant feature was the number of patients becoming chtych members. Nearly 800 were added test year.”