MOTHER SALAH: A BEACON FOR LEPROSY PATIENTS
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| Mother Anthoniatha Salah, Skin Diseases Treatment Centre Cherukunnu, Kannur |
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One
who lives in Kerala and serves its people for more than 40 years can
surely be considered a Keralite.
Mother
Anthoniatha Salah, though born in Italy, has chosen Kerala as her area
of activity and leprosy patients as her domain of service.
40
years ago in January 1961, mother came to Cherukunnu, Kannur.
Her service activities had a humble beginning in the form of a
hospital. But the sorry
plight of lepers languishing in the streets moved her to set up a
treatment center for them in 1970.
In
the beginning there were more than 100 patients.
With systematic treatment at the center, many were cured.
But in many cases, the family and relatives were reluctant to
accept the cured patients.
It
was then that Mother thought of providing houses for the ex-patients.
To some, assistance was given for constructing houses. For some
others, she arranged to have new houses constructed.
After
25 years in India, Mother Salah suddenly thought nostalgically of her
native place in Milan. With
the encouragement from colleagues she made a trip to the place.
“Nobody
recognized me. Not even my
family. When they recognized
that I was Salah, I too rejoiced with them.
But the joy I get here is 100 times when compared to that”, says
the 87-year-old Mother with the laughter of a child.
Of
her 15 brothers and sisters, only 2 are alive now.
They come every year to spend some time with her here.
Now
there are 45 inmates at the Leprosy Centre, which is now called Skin
Diseases Treatment Centre. Most of them are fully cured.
But they are reluctant to leave the aura of love and compassion.
Courtesy: M.P.Sukumaran, Sree, Malayala Manorama, January 13, 2002
Contributed by: Administrator
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