JCP Dietmembers call for promotion of relief measures for former leprosy patients

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP Dietmembers call for promotion of relief measures for former leprosy patients

Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers on December 16 made representations to Vice Welfare Minister Nagahama Hiroyuki, calling for promotion of measures to provide relief to former leprosy patients.

This year marks the 100th anniversary since the state’s segregation of leprosy patients began. Although the law to relieve former leprosy patients came into effect in April this year, the government has failed to give shape to the legislation.

JCP House of Representatives member Takahashi Chizuko pointed out the fact that the 13 state-run leprosy sanatoriums throughout the country face staff shortages as the number of workers is 132 less than the standard set by the government. She demanded that the government exclude the sanatorium workers from its measure to cut the number of public servants.

She also called on the Welfare Ministry to secure state budgets to help the sanatoriums open their facilities for public use.

A sanatorium for former leprosy patients in Tokyo’s Higashimurayama City has a plan to build a public childcare center within its space. Although the plan is supported by all the residents of the sanatorium as well as the mayor who has expressed his hope for the childcare center to be opened by 2014, the government requires the municipality to pay an excessive amount of rent for the sate land. “[The rent] disables the sanatorium from opening itself to community needs. This obstacle must be removed,” JCP House of Councilors member Nihi Sohei urged.

Vice minister Nagahama responded, “I’d like to have an opportunity to visit the sanatorium with you and work to remove the obstacle in order for the plan to be carried out.”

- Akahata, December 17, 2009