Religion and Philosophy - Christian Missions and the Challenge of Leprosy Patients in Northern Nigeria between 1928 and 1988

Abstract

Christian Missionary activities have often been criticised by scholars in different fields of study. More often than not, the missionaries were considered as imperialists who aided and abated the colonization of Nigeria. However, few other scholars considered them as those who contributed to the socio- economic and political development of Nigeria. This paper airs the views of those who argued that the Christian missionaries contributed to the development of Nigeria. The paper discusses briefly the contributions of the missionaries to the wellbeing of the leprosy patients in Northern Nigeria. They were able to set up leprosy settlements, established wards, villages, laboratories, vocational services, physiotherapy services for the treatment and socialization of the patients. Several of these patients who availed themselves at the settlements were not only healed and discharged, but were reinstated to their societies.

LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 5 2008: pp. 331-340