TREATING LEPERS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31595, 5 February 1968, Page 15

TREATING LEPERS

Difficult Journey

In spite of shipping difficulties, more than 30 primitive bush people in the, remote areas of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides were brought fof treatment to the Melanesian Mission’s leprosarium at Lolowai on the island of Aoba, which is largely supported by New Zealand through the Lepers’ Trust Board.

The lepers were encouraged to undertake the journey by a medical team sent by the British medical authorities who were concerned by reports of the large numbers of lepers in the bush area of the firchtpefago’s biggest island. According to reports received by the Lepers' Trust Board at its Christchurch headquarters, the journey Went smoothly until the lepers reached Tfingofi on the south Coast of Santo Where they had to wait for a mission vessel to take them to Aoba, 70 miles away.

Because of heavy seas the mission ship was unable to leave Aoba. Many of the lepers became alarmed and Spoke of returning home immediately. Some did so. Those who waited were accommodated at Santo’s French hospital, where they stayed for two days becoming more and more restless. As the ship had Still not arrived, the French district agency and the New Hebrides Condominion authorities made available two touring vessels and as many lepers as possible were taken to Aoba. The few who remained were picked up later by the mission Ship. Thirty-three lepers eventually reached the leprosarium, but eight were sent home because they did not need treatment