- Volume 66 , Number 4
- Page: 490–5
News and notes
This department furnishes information concerning institutions, organizations, and individuals engaged in work on leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases, and makes note of scientific meetings and other matters of interest.
1998 DAMIEN-DUTTON AWARD
Jean Margaret Watson. O.B.E., receives the 1998 Damien-Dutton Award from Wayne M. Meyers, M.D., at the 15th International Leprosy Congress in Beijing, China.
During the 15th International Leprosy Congress held in Beijing, China, in September 1998, Jean Margaret Watson, O.B.E., was presented as the Damien-Dutton Award winner for 1998. She was presented with the Award by Dr. Wayne M. Meyers who made the following commentary on her career.
Ms Jean M. Watson was born in Nottingham, England, in 1935. She completed her early education in the schools of Nottingham, and then spent 4 years at Kings College Hospital in London, England. On graduation she received membership in the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. She studied and worked as a physiotherapist at The Hammersmith Hospital and Postgraduate Medical School (1957-1959) and received The Certificate of Hydrotherapy in 1958.
Although Jean had a longstanding interest in leprosy, her first formal training in the disease was at Karigiri. India, in 1960-1961. During the decade 1961-1971 Jean served successively as the only qualified physiotherapist at the following well-known Centers of Excellence for Leprosy [under the auspices of The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI)]: Hay Ling Chau, Hong Kong; National Leprosy Control Centre, Sungei Buloh. Malaysia; and Darwin Leprosy Hospital, Darwin, Australia. These assignments involved intensive activities in establishing departments of physiotherapy for leprosy patients, and in training large numbers of staff members in the prevention and management of disabilities.
In 1972, Jean began a 7-year tenure at the renowned All-Africa Leprosy and Rehabilitation Training Centre (ALERT) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as Chief of Physiotherapy. Here she was responsible for the management of the local disabled leprosy patients, and trained many hundreds of leprosy workers from all over Africa. Further, Jean taught and gave workshops on the management of the leprosy-disabled patient in many other countries in Africa.
In 1979 Jean was selected by TLMI as a Physiotherapist Consultant and continued in this capacity through February 1995. She was responsible for advising TLMI and all of the countries they collaborated with throughout the world on priorities and methods in the management of disability and the rehabilitation of leprosy patients and those disabled from other causes. Much of her time was spent in on-site consultation with senior program staff, Ministries of Health, doing surveys, and teaching workshops. This was a very active period, during which Ms Watson became widely known for her expertise, boundless energy, and God-given love for those who suffer.
From March 1995 to the present, Jean has been Project Director for the National Leprosy Rehabilitation Project, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in China.
The following is a list of some of her advisory and other responsibilities: the World Health Organization (WHO) Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation in Leprosy Programs; Member, Leprosy Control and Rehabilitation Expert Committee, International Federation of Antileprosy Associations (ILEP); WHO Regional Seminar on Leprosy Control in Egypt; Leprosy Rehabilitation Projects in China, 1986-1995; Workshop on Management of Prevention of Disability, International Leprosy Association's World Leprosy Congress, 1993; International Leprosy Union Training Workshop.
Jean Watson has written several books on the prevention of disabilities in leprosy, and all have been translated into numerous foreign languages. She also has contributed many scientific articles on disability in leprosy.
In 1985 Jean was named an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. For her contributions to the alleviation of human suffering and advancement of the social improvement of the disabled, especially those with leprosy, Ms Watson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988. In 1996 she was awarded the International Gandhi Award. An excerpt from the citation of the Gandhi Award, read by the President of India, follows: "... Ms Jean Margaret Watson, a specialist in physiotherapy and consultant in prevention of disabilities and advisor in rehabilitation. ... Her writings and teachings are a treasure for health workers all over the world. The life and work of Ms Jean Watson ... is a luminous chapter in the story of human struggle against leprosy.... May your exemplary humanitarian service inspire the generations to come to follow in your footsteps."
The citation on the Damien-Dutton Award plaque reads:
China. Fourth Congress of the China Leprosy Association. When the 15th International Leprosy Congress was just over with success, the IV Congress of the China Leprosy Association (CLA) was held on 13 September 1998, in Beijing and was attended by 151 delegates from 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. Several honored guests, such as Prof. Cao Ronggui, Vice Minister of Public Health; Prof. Zhou Ji, Deputy Director General of the Department of Learned Society Affairs, China Association for Science and Technology; and Prof. Dai Zhicheng, President of the Chinese Antituberculosis Association, were invited to attend the Congress. In the work report, Prof. Ye Ganyun, President of the Third Session of the CLA, especially emphasized the important role of the CLA in effectively promoting leprosy control programs and in scouting talents in the field of leprosy as well as in successfully preparing and organizing the 15th International Leprosy Congress. A revised statute of the Association was approved and a new board of councillors of the CLA was elected by the Congress. Prof. Xiao Ziren, Vice President of the Chinese Medical Association, was elected the new President. Drs. He Daxun, Hu Lufang and Zhao Tien'en were reelected Vice Presidents; Dr. Chen Jiakun, immediate past Director of Shanghai Zunyi Hospital, and Dr. Zhang Guocheng, Deputy Director of the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, were elected new Vice Presidents. Dr. Yang Zhongmin, Associate Professor of the Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, responsible for establishing and operating the National OMSLEP for several years, was elected the new Secretary General. Prof. Ye Ganyun was engaged as Honorary President and Mrs. Sufei Ma Haide and Prof. Li Huanying were engaged as Honorary Vice Presidents by the Congress. The Congress expected continuous cooperation with friendly foreign organizations and decided, as stated in Prof. Ye's work report, to unite all members of the Association devoting themselves and to seek realistic results as well as to bring forth new ideas for realizing a "World Without Leprosy" in China eventually in years to come. -He Daxun, M.D., Vice President, China Leprosy Association
India. 1999 Schieffelin leprosy courses at Karigari. The following 1999 course schedule has been received from Dr. Samuel Solomon, Ag. Director, Schieffelin Leprosy Research & Training Center at Karigari (see p. 494).
Courses: English fluency essential. Recognized by WHO and Indian government (all paramedical and technical courses are fully recognized by the Indian government).
Facilities: Hostel: 60 men, 16 women and Guest house: single and double rooms.
Rates: Hostel: Accommodation: Rs. 5/per day = ordinary accommodation; (Sharing) = Rs. 10/- per day with other amenities; Rs.20/- per day with other amenities = short stay (<1 month). Food approximately per month = Rs.750/-. Guest house: Single room = Rs.l 10/- per day; double room = Rs. 160/- per day; single a/c room = Rs.300/- per day; double a/c room = Rs.400/- per day. Food: Indian: Vegetarian = Rs.64/- per day, nonvegetarian = Rs.82/per day; Western = Rs. 160/- or US$4.
How to Reach Karigari: Madras is connected to all the major cities of India by air. From Madras Airport the fare for taxi is approximately Rs. 800/-. Route → Ranipet → Tiruvalam → Sevoor → Karigari Hospital. There are also many buses which operate between 05.00 hr and 22.00 hr from Madras to Vellore. From Vellore take any taxi or auto which costs Rs. 150 and Rs. 100, respectively, or you can take a prepaid taxi or electric train to the City Railway station (Central station), about 20 km away from Airport. From there take any train to Katpadi Railway station (13 km away from Karigiri). From Katpadi to Karigiri an auto will cost Rs. 75/-. If you want to be met at Katpadi or at Madras Airport, please let us know well in advance.
Contact: The Director/Registrar, Training Unit, Schieffelin Leprosy Research & Training Centre, 632 106 Karigiri, Tamil Nadu, South India. Tel.: +91/41674227, +91/41674229, +91/41674221 (Director); Fax: +91/41632103, +91/41671274.
Nepal. 1998 Dr. Minoo Mehta International Prize awarded. The 1998 awardee of the Dr. Minoo Mehta International Prize is Mr. Yog Raj Paudel from the International Nepal Fellowship-Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal. Mr. Paudel, 39, is married with three children and started work at the Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara in 1979 as an office assistant and became assistant administrator in 1985. From 1990 on he was acting administrator and from 1991 on administrative officer of the Leprosy Control Project, Dang in Nepal which is run by the International Nepal Fellowship with the financial and technical support of the German Leprosy Relief Association.
Since Mr. Paudel does not have experience in hospital administration, he will now attend a 1-year course in hospital administration in Manila, The Philippines. After completion of the course, he will be able to cope with the necessities of the large Green Pastures Hospital which is being restructured at the moment.
The Dr. Minoo Mehta International Prize is named after the late son of Dr. and Mrs. Dr. Jal Mehta, Poona, India. The Prize is allocated as an annual stipend. This award is in appreciation of the leprosy work performed by Dr. Jal Mehta and of the mutual cooperation lasting for years as well as in recognition of the support given by Dr. Mehta to leprosy relief work in India. (The Dr. Minoo Mehta International Prize was not allocated in 1997.)-Materials from the German Leprosy Association
U.K. Stanley Browne/Acchiappati Fund sends delegates to 15th ILC. As the result of a generous legacy, a fund of US$ 138,000 had been established with the express purpose of enabling people working in the field of leprosy to attend the International Leprosy Congress. Recognizing the significance of the 15th Congress in Beijing, the fund managers decided to concentrate the use of the fund to support as many people as possible for this Congress.
A total of 52 people from 24 countries were fully or partly supported by the fund. Dr. Derek Browne (son of the late Dr. Stanley Browne), who is one of the fund managers, handed out attendance certificates to those sponsored. The fund was administered by The Leprosy Mission International.-Trevor Durston, TLM General Director
U.S.A. New cases of leprosy in 1997. There were 122 new leprosy cases diagnosed in the U.S. in 1997. This continues an overall declining trend since the peak of 361 new cases diagnosed in 1985. California had 40 new cases, Hawaii 26, Texas 24, and New York City 10.-MMWR 46(1997) No. 56