About valley of hope
In the past, the term "leprosy" was a curse. Once diagnosed with leprosy, the patient was forcibly isolated and unable to contact the outside world. The Sungai Buloh Leprosy Hospital, also known as the Valley of Hope, is located 25 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur in the valley area. It used to be the world's second largest leprosarium and the largest in the British Empire, with the most advanced facilities. It does not have high walls or barbed wire like other leprosarium, but instead follows the British "Garden City" concept plan, which is a self-sustaining community.
The Valley of Hope used to cover an area of 562 acres and was divided into the West section, Eastern section, and Center section. In the early years, lepers lived a life that was almost independent and self-sufficient in this paradise surrounded by mountains and green grass. It was created with an Enlightened Policy, and at its peak it housed 2,440 patients.
This community has its own social system and living culture. It used to have internal currency, schools, clinics, police stations, fire stations, patient councils organized by residents, various religious worship sites, graveyards, prisons, townships, regiment halls and social clubs, etc.
Many people still have misunderstandings, fears, and misconceptions about leprosy. In fact, with medical advancements, leprosy can be completely cured. Valley of Hope no longer accepts new patients, and the patients who were forcibly admitted to the hospital that year have recovered. They gradually withered and aged, but many still chose to stay in this community. They have been stigmatized and separated from their loved ones for many years. Their bodies were used in live experiments, which resulted in the development of specific leprosy medicines and made significant contributions to the history of world medicine.
Valley of Hope has made significant contributions to the global history of leprosy. It is a model for disease control and a forerunner in Malayan urban planning. After leprosy was eradicated, the leprosarium gradually opened to the public in the late 1960s. The flower garden run by the leper in his early years has also become a landmark of this place. The horticultural industry is well-known throughout the world, and it was once referred to as the "Paradise of flowers."
In February 2019, Valley of Hope successfully handed over the preparatory materials for the world cultural heritage, taking the first step to apply for the world cultural heritage. It is currently Selangor's cultural pre-production with the most application conditions, and it is expected to become the world's first historic site to be designated as a world cultural heritage site. We will not only support the Valley of Hope's World Heritage application, but we will also let you feel the universal value of this cultural fortress and the warm stories of this unique community when you walk into the Valley of Hope.
To learn about the universal value of Valley of Hope, please click：https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6388/