The reopened Acworth Leprosy Museum is worth a visit,just to see how history and society have changed attitudes towards patients In the quiet lanes of Wadala is hidden a little-visited institution thats almost a mirror to the attitude Indian society has had to leprosy,through the ages,the Acworth Leprosy Museum housed in one of the wards of the Acworth Municipal Hospital for Leprosy. A joint venture of the Acworth Municipal Hospital and the Acworth Leprosy Hospital Research Society,substantially supported by The Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation and The Nippon Foundation,Japan,the museum offers a thought-provoking display of photographs and documents. Prathiba Kathe,the project coordinator at the museum,says: Our aim is to inform the public about a disease that is still a serious problem in our country. The museum is open for public viewing on weekdays between 9 in the morning and 3.30 pm. The museum,the extended part of which was inaugurated on the June 9 after some additions and revamp,has eight sections of displays including history and research material pertaining to leprosy. The museum,a one-of-its-kind in India,has each of the eight modules showing a different aspect of the disease and how it was dealt with in India. The first section deals with the history of the Acworth Municipal Hospital for Leprosy,within the premises of which the museum is located. It gives details about the hospital,earlier known as the Homeless Leper Asylum,its inception,evolution and its inmates. Speaking about a section that gives information about the disease and the timeline of development in treatment,Pratibha says: Through the information provided we want people to realize that the disease isnt as dangerous as it is perceived to be. One of the modular displays states that only 15 per cent of leprosy patients may transmit the disease to others,and this too can be curbed with modern medication. Pratibha adds,Such information can help reduce the stigma associated with leprosy. The museum houses material for public knowledge and is a repository of historical artefacts and documents for scholars. There is also a library in the museum,which has archival reports from 1860 onwards. Pratibha says,We want people to come here and get knowledge about the misconceptions people have. Our library is also a great source of information for scholars who are working on the subject. All the reports that have been gathered are now digitized and this enables easy access. Another interesting section of the museum details the legal intricacies and laws that have changed with times. Still,Pratibha insists,Though laws have changed in favour of leprosy patients,there is still a law which grants divorce on grounds of the spouse suffering from leprosy. This section has various case studies on display. Many modular displays also concentrate on the people and institutions that have worked to help the patients at the hospital. Apart from the pictorial and informative modular displays there are also various woodcrafts made by the inmates and a model of the complex. Today,there are only 120 patients who live in the hospital and are being treated,as compared to the 500 patients some years back. Pratibha adds,This is possible because of modern medication and awareness among the people that has reduced the numbers but a lot more is to be done.
