A success story in Thailand

Originally a leprosy hospital, McKean Hospital still serves the community

By Brett and Shelly Faucett,
Mission workers in Thailand

A man at McKean Hospital makes a carving of the Last Supper. Photo by Brett Faucett

Founded in 1908 by Presbyterian missionaries as a leprosy hospital, McKean Hospital in Chiang Mai was the first leprosy center in all of Thailand. In the early years leprosy sufferers walked to McKean from all over Thailand and from neighboring countries, even from as far away as China. There they found acceptance, shelter and compassionate care, as well as the latest treatment for leprosy.

The hospital grew in stages from a leprosy colony and hospital to a leprosy rehabilitation center that provided physical and occupational therapy. Their goal was, and still is, to empower the patients to attain their maximum potential physically, to be psychologically healthy with a sense of self-worth and self-acceptance and to be able to live productive lives with acceptance and dignity in their own community.

Leprosy is nearly eradicated, due to education and care, but McKean continues to administer treatment to a few rare cases of leprosy. The hospital is now more focused on elderly care and the care of disabled persons, and also provides vocational training. Quite a few former leprosy patients are now working for McKean, making handicrafts, constructing prosthetic limbs and assembling and fixing bicycles.

McKean is a success story in Thailand. There no longer exists a stigmatization of lepers, due to public education about leprosy and the caring and nurturing work of the people who work at McKean.

Help support the work of McKean Hospital.