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Book illuminates lives of patients in leprosy sanitorium

The nation's only public leprosy hospital, the Lo Sheng Sanatorium (樂生療養院) is the subject of a new book published yesterday.

The book, entitled Outside the World (悲歡樂生), documents life within the sanatorium as well as its 74-year history of service.

"This is a book that has life in it," said Minister of Health Chen Jian-ren (陳建人) yesterday at the launch. "We see how the patients can live more optimistic, positive lives than people who don't suffer such physical problems."

"It teaches us at the Department of Health a lesson," Chen said. "We cannot put labels or stereotypes on patients with debilitating diseases, ignoring their humanity."

The bilingual edition features interviews with longtime sanatorium residents along with historic photographs and pictures by China Times photographer Lin Guo-chang (林國彰). Journalist Chang Ping-yi (張平宜) interviewed the residents and edited the text.

"Our lives as humble citizens are preserved as history," said sanatorium superintendent Huang Long-de (黃龍德).

Leprosy patients from Leseng met invited dignitaries yesterday at the launch ceremony.

Chen Zai-tian (陳再添), a resident at Leseng, thanked the writer and photographer for their honest reporting, and shared some of his painful experiences. Leprosy patients are often shunned, even feared, because of their deformities, said Chen.

Chang and Lin are members of the Wings of Hope Charity Group (中華希望之翼服務協會), which organized the publication.

The photographs used in the book won a first prize at the In-ternational Dong Gang Photography Festival in South Korea. Lin himself will also receive a prize for his work, and promised to donate the prize money, estima-ted at US$10,000, to aid leprosy patients in Taiwan and China.

Vice Chairman of Academia Sinica and former education minister Tseng Chi-lang (曾志朗) helped auction off ten copies of the new book and its photos.
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