Not a Curse of God

Indonesia ranks third in the world for the number of lepers. Although leprosy is curable, stigmas attached to its sufferers remain strong.

February 17, 2009

AGUNG was lying limply on his bed. The 28-year-old looked thin and frail. He had spent two months in Sitanala Leprosy Hospital, Tangerang. Over the past year, the father of one had often felt listless and weak. At first, the resident of Karawang, West Java, thought he was just exhausted. Then he went to a masseur. But his condition made no improvement.

He was even losing weight. He could hardly move his hands. Only later was it found that he had

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