Once known as the Asylum for Homeless Lepers, the Acworth Leper Asylum stands before us. It has a poignant history etched into its very walls. This is Mumbai’s only dedicated leprosy center. It has provided care and shelter for thousands.
The Acworth Leper Asylum first opened its doors on November 7 1890. Initially, it had just 50 beds. The facility quickly expanded. By 1957, it boasted 500 beds. Patients arrived from all over India and even neighboring countries like Nepal.
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth was the municipal commissioner of Mumbai. He played a crucial role in the asylum’s establishment. In 1904, the asylum was renamed Acworth Leper Asylum in his honor.
Back then leprosy was considered incurable. It meant permanent banishment from society. The British Raj’s 1898 Lepers Act further isolated those affected. It allowed for their exile to special colonies. A magistrate’s stamp was required to admit a patient to the Asylum for Homeless Lepers.
Before 1941 only a few left the hospital alive. Complications from leprosy, other ailments or old age often claimed their lives. The discovery of the antibiotic dapsone in 1941 changed everything.
In 1970, the hospital staff started a society. It was named Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society for Research, Rehabilitation, and Education in Leprosy. This commemorated the hospital’s 80th anniversary.
Today, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation runs the Acworth Leper Asylum. They restored it in March 2023. As of November 2022, 67 patients were in care. Only two had active leprosy. Many residents have been at the facility for decades. Some have lived here for 40 to 70 years.
Many former patients chose to stay. They had faced rejection from their families and society. Acworth Hospital became their home.
The Acworth Leper Asylum also houses a museum. It is one of only five such museums in Asia. The Acworth Leprosy Museum was inaugurated on February 5 2003. It showcases leprosy’s social clinical historical and legal journey.
The Acworth Leper Asylum is more than just a hospital. It is a testament to human resilience. It shows the power of compassion and the ongoing fight against stigma. This is a place where lives were rebuilt and dignity restored. Remember Acworth Leper Asylum for its profound impact on countless lives.