The International Congress for the Relief and Social
Rehabilitation of Leprosy Patients
Held at Rome, April 16-18, 1956
Resolutions of the Congress
The International Congress for the Relief and Social Rehabilitation of persons suffering
from Leprosy, meeting in Rome under the sponsorship of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
from the 1-6th to the 18th of April 1956, comprising 250 delegates from 51 nations,
Considering that leprosy is a disease of low contagiousness and amenable to treatment.
RESOLVES
1. a) That patients afflicted with the disease be treated as are those suffering from other
infectious diseases, tuberculosis for example, without any other special regulations
whatsoever; and that, in consequence, all discriminatory laws should be abolished.
b) That in countries where leprosy is a problem, carefully planned propaganda measures
be taken to promote public understanding of the true nature of leprosy and to remove
all prejudices and superstitions associated with the disease.
2. a) That measures be adopted for early discovery and treatment 9f cases. Patients should
be left at home provided that the state of their disease does not constitute a danger
to their associates; this should have an important favourable psychological effect.
b) That in countries where economic and medical resources are inadequate, but where
endemicity in high, a mass treatment campaign be undertaken to control the disease;
hospitalization should be limited to those whose condition requires special medical
and or surgical treatment and should terminate when such treatment is completed.
c) That children be protected from infection by every approved biological means. Removal
to a preventorium should be resorted to only in cases of absolute necessity because
of the distressing stigma attached to the residence in such institutions
d) That governments be encouraged to grant to those seriously disabled the moral, social
and medical assistance necessary for their protection and rehabilitation, through the
agency or various governmental departments, such as social welfare, agriculture, and
education, which will have a beneficial psychological effect both on the patients and
on the public.
* * *
The Congress expresses its thanks to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta for having
brought together, on an internatona1 level, devoted scientific and welfare workers who have
as their common objective victory over leprosy.
《「国際らい会議録 Memoranda of the International Congress of Leprology 」
( 長島愛生園内らい文献目録編集委員会著 裳掛村長濤会 1957.10発行)より引用しました。》