In Lincang, there are three leprosy rehabilitation villages—Mayidui Town Mingzishan Village, Fengqing County Guodazhai Town Songlin Village Tengmiehe Team, and Gengma County Mengding Town No. 9 Team—with a total of 83 rehabilitation patients.

Three years ago we started to tour the three villages and to treat the ulcers of the leprosy rehabilitation patients. First, we taught them how to prevent recurrence of ulcers; then we washed their feet, clipped their nails, cleaned discharges and dead tissues from the ulcers, and dressed their wounds.

We also gave the patients medicines for common diseases, as well as blankets, mosquito nets, soap, oil, salt, and so on. To prevent the ulcers from getting larger, we

designed and tailor-made protective shoes and insoles according to individual needs of the patients. We also improved their kitchen tools because we found that more than 40% of new ulcers were due to burns caused by kettles or cooking pots. To prevent the patients from getting new ulcers from the burns, we purchased 300 sets of wooden knob on the pot cover and pot handles and installed them for the patients.

During our interaction with the leprosy rehabilitation patients, we found that they were kind, simple-hearted, and very lovable. Every time we went to visit them, they would pour a drink for us. Frankly speaking, every time we took the cups from them, we would be a little hesitant, but, because of our love for them and their hospitality, we had neither the reason nor the heart to turn them down. The patients and we would chat about our respective lives. We would also tell them about news and recent events broadcast on TV. Because all the people that they face every day were the few elderly people in the villages, they knew nothing about the outside world, and we could see in their eyes despair and helplessness. From our past interactions with and understanding of the rehabilitation patients, we became aware that what they wanted most was to be understood, to be treated without discrimination, and to have friends who could accept and love them.

In the past, after being diagnosed with leprosy, they would be quarantined in remote mountain areas without tap water, transportation, or electricity. Some patients were quarantined at just 17 or 18. This youthful period is usually the best time in one’s life to pursue one’s goals and dreams. But for them, everything turned out to be a nightmare, and they would end up living in this nightmare in the mountains for more than 50 years. Some of them were quarantined at even younger ages. Living in the dark shadows of their environment, they felt completely deprived of human dignity, and they were discriminated by other people. Since then, they had had no friends, and some were even deserted by their own families, who might have regarded leprosy as a shame. Ever since they were quarantined, there has been little contact from their families. In fact, some families have never paid even one visit. Sometimes, the patients would think about ending their own lives by suicide.

No one knows about them, or understands them, let alone cares for and loves them. When they try to sell in town the chickens and pigs that they have raised, nobody ventures to buy them for fear of being infected. Their life is hard. Poverty and backwardness are the basic conditions of the rehabilitation villages (including the serious problem of educational backwardness). Many patients are over 80 years old, and they have realized that they can grow corn, rice, tea, and walnuts to make some meager income to supplement the small governmental allowances.

Moreover, they have a passion for life. Like healthy people, during festival seasons, they would prepare chicken and pork meals and set off firecrackers and fireworks at night. Sometimes they would invite us to participate and we would go. I remember that once the rehabilitation village in Mengdin was celebrating Water-splashing Festival, and the villagers invited us to participate. We spent every minute together, and we also performed for them. We accepted one another with mutual respect and inclusion. After each performance, they would lift their deformed hands to applaud for us. At the end of each festival, they would give us some treats to bring back and share with our friends. Before we left, they would joke with us, saying, “Doctor, if you don’t want the treats, you can throw them away on the way back.”

Our hearts ached when we heard what they said. Perhaps in the past, some people did throw the treats away after receiving them for fear that the food was not clean or something. When the villagers worked in the field and found the cast-out treats, they were very upset. That was why they made the wisecrack remark. From time to time we would very seriously guarantee them that we would not throw away the treats and that we would share the treats with our families and friends.

We think that their gifts are the best. The reason they give us gifts is that they do not think of us as outsiders but completely accept us as their own. Sometimes when we visit them, they would not say, “You have come.” Instead, they would say, “Doctor, you have come back. We missed you very much, and we are pleased that you have returned.”

Every time we visit rehabilitation villages, our work always ends in a pleasant atmosphere, and we even feel a bit reluctant to leave.

Nowadays conditions in China have improved. As the nation grows more prosperous, its government pays more attention to health and education, with the result that the rehabilitation villages have also benefited. Leprosy patients have the opportunity to take medicine to control the disease; they can also marry within the villages and raise children.

In recent years, roads have been built to reach the rehabilitation villages. Villagers can sell their raised livestock to make some income. Some merchants drive directly to the villages to shop, and we can drive to the villages to better serve the rehabilitation patients. We are very grateful for the government's strong support.

Some patients in the rehabilitation villages receive social welfare for low-income people. The welfare allowance, which varies from 60 yuan to 200 yuan for each person, can alleviate at least part of their hardships. We eagerly hope that government agencies can pay more attention to addressing more issues for the rehabilitation villages. We also hope designated government agencies can promote more awareness and work toward the goal that someday the patients will be able to live in communities where they will not be subjected to discrimination.