Leprosy and Stigma in the South Pacific

Dorothy McMenamin is the author of two previous books and has published broadly in journals on topics relating to marginalized communities.

Table of Contents



Acknowledgments     

Abbreviations and Terms     

Preface     



Introduction     

The Disease and Its Brief History     

Historiography     

Brief History of Leprosy Stigma     

Missions and Stigma     

Myth of Stigma and Self- Stigma     

Growth of Leprosaria and Missionary Involvement     

Other Leprosaria     

The Interviews     



1. Community Through Adversity—New Zealand to Fiji     

Patrick J. Twomey: Early Encounters with Leprosy     

Formation of a Charitable Trust in New Zealand     

LTB/PLF and Leprosy Sufferers in the South Pacific Region     

Leprosy in Fiji: Historical Background     

Early Accounts of Leprosy     

Establishment of the Leprosarium at Beqa     

Establishment of the Leprosarium at Makogai     

Conditions at Makogai and the SMSM     

Sulphone Treatment and Changing Times     

St. Elizabeth Leprosy Home, Suva     

P.J. Twomey Memorial Hospital, Tamavua, Suva     

Testimonies of Interviewees at Twomey Hospital     

Testimonies of Interviewees Living in Their Own Homes     



2. Former Penitentiaries as Leprosaria—New Caledonia     

Historical Background     

Early Reports and Treatment of Leprosy     

Involvement of Religious Orders in Care at Belep and Ducos     

Conditions at Ducos Leprosarium to the Late 1960s     

The LTB and Other Charitable Involvement at Ducos     

Leprosy on the Island and at Ducos Since the Late 1960s     

Continuing SMSM Involvement     



3. Rise and Demise of Stigma—Samoa     

Historical Background     

Early Incidence of Leprosy and Attitudes Toward the Disease     

Leprosaria at Alia and Nu’utele     

Removal of Leprosy Sufferers to Makogai, Fiji     

Samoan Experiences at Makogai and Reintegration Back Home     

Leprosy Treatment in Samoa Since the Late 1950s     

PLF Assistance in Samoa     



4. The Loneliness of Isolation—Tonga     

Historical Background     

Early Incidence of Leprosy     

Fale’ofa Leprosy Clinic at Ngu Hospital, Vava’u     

Tongan Experiences at Makogai Leprosarium     

Village of Longomapu, Vava’u     

Experience of Isolation at Fale’ofa     

Leprosy Experiences Without Isolation     



5. The Benefits of Leprosaria—Vanuatu     

Historical Background     

Earliest Accounts of Leprosy     

Melanesian Mission and Establishment of Leprosarium at Lolowai     

Conditions at St. Barnabas Leprosarium, Lolowai     

Leaving Lolowai     

Supporting Accounts of Conditions at Lolowai Leprosarium     

Incidence of Leprosy and PLF Assistance     

Testimonies of Leprosy Sufferers     

Memories of Lolowai     

Experiences Living at Home with Leprosy     



Conclusion     

Minimal Biblical and Missionary Causes of Stigma     

Leprosaria and Stigma     

Stigma and Self- Stigma     



Appendix: The Betty Pyatt Letter     

Chapter Notes     

Bibliography     

Index