Hoshizuka Keiaien Sanatorium

National Sanatorium Hoshizuka Keiaien

Hoshizuka Keiaien Sanatorium
Geography
Location 4204 Hoshizukacho, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
Organisation
Care system HealthCare of those who had leprosy
Hospital type National hospital run by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
Services
History
Founded 1935
Links
Website http://www.hosp.go.jp/~keiaien/
Lists Hospitals in Japan

Hoshizuka Keiaien Sanatorium, (National Sanatorium Hoshizuka Keiaien) is a sanatorium for leprosy patients or ex-leprosy patients in Kanoya-shi, kagoshima-ken, Japan which was established in 1935.

History

Background

Following the establishment of prefectural sanatoriums, the Japanese government decided to increase sanatoriums, first with National Sanatorium Nagashoma Airakuen in 1930. Hoshizuka Keiaien was the 4th sanatorium which was established in 1935. Unlike other areas, resistance to the establishment of this sanatorium was small.

Hoshizuka Keiaien

Number of Patients on March 31 next year

The number of in-patients is the sum of patients which changed not only by the newly diagnosed hospitalized and those who died among in-patients, by other factors such as the number of patients who escaped or were discharged, depending on the condition of the times. Recently they were encouraged to be discharged, but the long period of the segregation policy causing leprosy stigma might influence the number of those who went into the society.

[1]

Year Number of in-patients
1935 368
1940 891
1943 1347*maximum
1950 976
1960 1160
1970 974
1980 828
1984 741

[2]

Year Number of in-patients
2003 359
2004 339
2005 319
2006 290
2007 279
2008 265

Promin worked

It was at the congress of the Japanese Leprosy Association held in the Keiaien Sanatorium on November 2 and 3, 1947 that the effects of promin were first reported. At first it did not attract attention since cepharanthin, a new drug for leprosy which had been tested earlier proved disappointing. Promin use started in November 1948, and the effects of promin were amazing. "Give us promin" movement began. The first patient cleared with promin was discharged in April, 1953.

Scabies

Leprosy in earlier days has been associated with scabies, and this has been pointed out by Kensuke Mitsuda. There were many cases of scabies.[3]

Vasectomy

Notes

  1. Namonaki Hoshi Tachiyo (To stars which have no names)(1985), Hoshizuka Keiaien Jichikai
  2. http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~libell/4ryouyousyo.html 2009.12.29
  3. Namonaki Hoshi Tachiyo(1985) p.266

External links

Coordinates: 31°20′32″N 130°51′31″E / 31.34222°N 130.85861°E