Memorial Ceremony for Former Patients with Hansen's Disease Corona Infection Expanded and Scaled Down Tokyo October 29, 16:10
A ceremony was held in Tokyo to commemorate a former patient with leprosy who died of discrimination after being forcibly quarantined by the country's wrong policy.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held a memorial service every year on June 22, when the law stipulating compensation was enforced for ex-patients with Hansen's disease who died, but this time it was affected by the spread of the new coronavirus. Was postponed.
On the 29th, in front of the entrance of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, a ceremony was held on a significantly smaller scale than usual, and 20 people including former patients and their families attended.
Deputy Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Yamamoto read the ceremony of Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura, saying, "We take seriously that many patients were hindered from their peaceful lives due to human rights restrictions and discrimination due to the former isolation policy. I deeply apologize again. "
Guangnan Huang then greeted the family on behalf of the family, saying, "I want the government to continue its determination to apologize here every year, not to say that it has no history."
The government forcibly quarantined leprosy patients in sanatoriums based on the law from 1890, and continued the quarantine policy for about 90 years until 1996 even after it was found that the infectivity was extremely weak.
During this time, many people died suffering from discrimination, and according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, as of May, 1090 people are living in national sanatoriums for reasons such as "no relatives."
After the ceremony, former patient Isao Tateyama (71) said, "There is still prejudice and discrimination in the world. I want to raise my voice as long as I live until the remorse of those who have been discriminated against." I was talking.
Last year, the government set up a system to pay compensation to family members, saying that the families of former patients were also discriminated against over Hansen's disease, and more than 5,100 people have been paid so far.