- It was a great shock to be diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, as it was believed to be an incurable disease until a drug called Promin became available in 1947.
- Once diagnosed, patients and even their families were treated with violent forms of discrimination. So, the families would either drive the patients from home or hide them before it became known to the people around them.
- However, doctors and city (village) officials would repeatedly order the affected member of the family to be isolated in a sanatorium saying that it is a frightening, contagious disease. Eventually the word would spread and the patient would no longer be able to live at home.
- The patient would go reluctantly to the sanatorium so that the family would be spared further harassment and hard times.
- There were patients who were forced enter sanatoria, although care at home was possible.
