Dorothy was spot-on: There’s no place like home. As we journey through life―dodging the occasional wicked witch―it’s comforting to know that a cozy bed, loving arms, and perhaps even a Munchkin or two await, just across the threshold. But what happens when “home” is a hospital—a hospital for patients living with Hansen’s disease (leprosy)? What happens when the conditions of the hospital crumble to filth and foulness because the state government has limited the funding and maintenance?
This is the reality of the Hansen’s disease (leprosy) patients in Brazil, who were forced to claim the state-government run hospital as home. As children, these patients—now residents—have lived in the hospital since they were diagnosed with leprosy. Click here to learn more from the Daily Mail.
These people don’t know any place other than life in the hospital, and what are they supposed to do? Who will help? Where will the funding come from?
I thought about the whole scenario, and then I remembered…
Weren’t there just about 11,000 athletes from about 200 different countries around the world competing and fighting for the gold?
Wasn’t that Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Yes, yes it was.
Just about this time last year, the eyes of the world were on the huge Olympic stadiums in Rio. Billions of dollars were spent on bringing the flagship-sporting event to Brazil, with the overall cost estimated to be around $12 billion.
I guess I just don’t get it.
Since the early 1900’s, Brazil, like most countries in the world, isolated people infected with leprosy in dozens of colonies—hospitals or institutions.
The patients—these people are interned for so long that even when they are finally given permission to leave, they don’t go. They don’t see a way to live outside the walls of these hospitals. How could they go out there?
Maybe it’s a good thing since all they may see are the Olympic legacy facilities lying in ruins.
