The Leprosy Institution (Leper Settlement as it was then called) was first located at 5th Mile, Rock Road, Kuching. It accommodated about 70 patients. In 1917, a fund in memory of the late Second Rajah Sir Charles Brooke, was set up and generously supported by the public. With the funds collected, it was possible to build a new Settlement at Satang Island. This was desirable as the patients were becoming a public nuisance by begging in the streets and involved in other activities such as gambling, etc.

     In 1924, the buildings, houses, stores, dispensary and others were completed and the patients were moved to the new settlement. Unfortunately this site was found to be unsuitable because during the Landas season, supplies, communications, rations and other necessities were extremely difficult. This prompted a move to a more suitable sanctuary.

     In October 1925, the patients were shifted back to the mainland to the present site at 13th Mile, Penrissen Road. This new place was found to be ideally suited for the location of the settlement. In 1926 more permanent buildings were constructed by the patients themselves as 'Gotong Royong Project' from timber and other building materials brought from Satang Island. In the same year (1926) the Government took over full responsibility of the settlement, but it was still named as Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial Leper Settlement.
 
     In 1940, permanent administrative block and hospital wards were built which could accommodate about 40 patients who needed proper medical and nursing care due to acute illness, ulcers and complications. Since then progressive expansion and improvements continued to take place until 1962. The present Institution consists of the following infrastructure:-

     Administrative Block
     3 Wards buildings
     11 Dormitory Barracks
     State Leprosy Control Centre Building complete with Computer and Record Rooms
     Outpatient Department building/Laboratory/Pharmacy/Kitchen/Laundry
     M.C.H. Clinic/Workshop/Canteen
     Mortuary
     Generator House
     Fire hose/pump house
     7 Staff Quarters/Barracks
     1 MO Bunglow
     Places of Worship : Chinese temple/SPG Churches/Surau
     Trainee Hostel
     Community Hall/Occupational Therapy Unit/Classroom
     Kindergarten

     The settlement was renamed in 1962 and since then is known as Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital with a total of 62 acreage.

     Since its establishment, R.C.B.M. Hospital is the sole Leprosarium providing leprosy care to patients not only from Sarawak, but also from Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan Indonesia. At its peak occupation, the patient population was as many as 500 plus.

     The Sarawak Leprosy Control Programme was launched in June 1974. Since then, with the decentralization and integration of leprosy care into the general medical services, the patient population has progressively declined over the years. This was because compulsory admission by law of a leprosy patient to R.C.B.M. Hospital was abolished and R.C.B.M. Hospital was and is that of Referral Hospital for:

     Since the launching of Leprosy Control Programme until today a total of 1512 cases are being registered and only 590 are still receiving treatment while the rest were either cured or died of old age. It is assumed that there are about 2000 cases of leprosy in Sarawak.


Leprosy Treatment In Sarawak

     Before 1940, leprosy was thought to be an incurable disease. The first medicine introduced for Leprosy was Chaulmogra oil injection extracted from the fruit of the Hydnocarpus trees. However it has been found to have no medical value. The greatest advance made in the treatment of leprosy came in 1949 with the discovery of Dapsone, a derivative of Sulphones and was first introduced to this Hospital in 1951, after which a number of leprosy patients were cured and discharged from the hospital, thus warrant unnecessary admission to leprosarium. However in 1972 other medicines have since been discovered which are also effective for the treatment of leprosy, there being Lamprene and Rifampicin  used as dual therapy with Dapsone.

     In 1986 W.H.O. introduced the use of these three drugs i.e. Dapsone, Rifampicin & Lamprene (Ethionamide) and termed as Multiple Drug Therapy Regime, which are very effective and thus accepted as National Therapy. Now a total of 173 cases are on MDT, while 94 cases are on surveillance and 417 cases are either on Dual Therapy on Monotherapy.


Leprosy as a Disease

     It is caused by Mycobacterium Leprae, a gram positive bacilli, invading only the skin and peripheral nerves. It is infectious and contracted through prolonged intimate contacts with the patient, but it is NOT HERIDITARY and its incubation period is about 2-7 years.
 
     Natural body resistance of an individual will determine the severity of the disease, thus the early sign of the disease (Indeterminate) may just disappears if the body resistance is high.

     According to W.H.O. definition there are only two types of leprosy namely Paucibacillary and Multibacillary, which can be recognised with the following signs and symptoms:-

LEPROSY IS CURABLE AND TREATMENT IS FREE
EARLY DETECTION PREVENTS DEFORMITY

Members of PAN-BORNEO COMMUNITY PROJECT COMMITTEE Rtn. Michael Hii (Project Chairman), Rtn. CP Chua Teck Kheng (Deputy Chairman),  Rtn. Ee Guan Teck & Kho Ping (Members),  Hj. Mohamad Ismail b. Hj. Gusta  (Hospital In-Charge).

The Multi-Purpose Hall built in 1954.