Long time Residents of Kalaupapa, Ben Pea and David Kupele Stading near the site of the Baldwin Home, where they lived until it was closed in 1932Bungarun (former Derby Leprosarium) Cemetary Memorial Mamoru Kunimoto at Homecoming Hill, Tama Zenshoen National Hansen’s Disease Sanatorium, Japan Church in Sighisoara, Romania, with a pulpit built on the exterior where the people with leprosy were not allowed in the church The interior of St. Jørgen’s Hospital, Bergen, Norway House of Ivan Skelton, Qual Island, New Zealand S.K. Jung (right) and M.W. Park in front of the monument to commemorate the lives of the 84 people who were killed on Sorok Island Leprosy Garveyard, Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick, Canada Chang Wen Bin resident of Lo Sheng, Taiwan, under the beams in the old hospital where people would hang themselves

Long time Residents of Kalaupapa, Ben Pea and David Kupele Stading near the site of the Baldwin Home, where they lived until it was closed in 1932Bungarun (former Derby Leprosarium) Cemetary MemorialMamoru Kunimoto at Homecoming Hill, Tama Zenshoen National Hansen’s Disease Sanatorium, JapanChurch in Sighisoara, Romania, with a pulpit built on the exterior where the people with leprosy were not allowed in the churchThe interior of St. Jørgen’s Hospital, Bergen, NorwayHouse of Ivan Skelton, Qual Island, New ZealandS.K. Jung (right) and M.W. Park in front of the monument to commemorate the lives of the 84 people who were killed on Sorok IslandLeprosy Garveyard, Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick, CanadaChang Wen Bin resident of Lo Sheng, Taiwan, under the beams in the old hospital where people would hang themselves

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-Leprosy Museum, St. Jørgen’s Hospital, Bergen, Norway

-Historic Monument Related to Leprosy, Sighisoara, Romania

-Leprosy Museum and Graveyard, Tracadie-Sheila, New  Brunswick, Canada

-Robben Island, South Africa

-Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Hawaii

-National Hansen’s Disease Center Museum, Carville, Louisiana, USA

-Tama Zensho-en and other H.D. Sanatoria, Japan

-Quail Island, New Zealand 

-Culion, Philippines

-Tichilesti Hospital, Romania

-Sungai Buloh, Malaysia

-Bungarun Cemetery Memorial, Australia

-Sorok Island, South Korea

-Lo Sheng Sanatorium, Taiwan

Leprosy Heritage Sites, Memorials and Museums

Prior to the advent of a cure for leprosy, people throughout the world were forcibly separated from their families and isolated in places far removed from society.  This was done for the supposed protection of society at great cost to the lives of the individuals and their families.  In fact, in some cases, whole family lines came to an end if an only child had leprosy.

Many countries throughout the world have recognized the historical significance of these leprosy heritage sites.  IDEA is working to build a strong international network to support the efforts of conserving leprosy/Hansen’s Disease communities and historical sites as part of the important history of the world.

At the same time, it is hoped that this effort will also assist those, like the residents of Lo Sheng and Sungai Buloh, who are striving to save their historic communities from demolition in order that they may live out their lives in the places that have become their homes and also ensure that their history will be remembered.

Leprosy Heritage Sites