Sanatorium Padre Bento

The Sanatorium Padre Bento (Sanatório Padre Bento), originally called Complexo Hospitalar São Paulo, was a health institution founded by Antônio José Trindade and inaugurated on 5 June 1931 in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil. In the same year it was acquired by the Government of the State of São Paulo, which converted it into a facility for the compulsory confinement of people with leprosy (then known as lepra). The sanatorium was located between the Jardim Tranquilidade and Gopoúva neighborhoods. The site is now occupied by the Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento and the Teatro Padre Bento. The original construction was listed as a heritage site by the Municipality of Guarulhos in 2000. The institution is remembered as part of Brazil's history of leprosy isolation policies, and its name honors the religious figure Bento Dias Pacheco, who dedicated part of his life to the treatment of leprosy patients.

The Sanatorium Padre Bento was founded by Antônio José Trindade and inaugurated on 5 June 1931 in Guarulhos, São Paulo. Originally named Complexo Hospitalar São Paulo, it was a health house for the mentally ill. In the same year, it was acquired by the Government of the State of São Paulo, which transformed it into an institution for the compulsory confinement of people with leprosy (known as lepra at the time). The isolation of leprosy patients had begun in 1923 when the disease was endemic, contagious, caused mutilations, and had no known cure. Fear of contagion was widespread, even among doctors, and patients suffered prejudice. Leprosy was a symbol of a degrading and marginalizing disease, especially because it attacked the external integrity of the body. In the 1930s, the São Paulo government built four asylums and the Sanatorium Padre Bento. The complex consisted of houses, vegetable gardens, a football field, a basketball court, a cinema-theater, and a parish on an area of 90,000 square meters. The name honors the religious Bento Dias Pacheco, who dedicated part of his life to the treatment of leprosy patients. The theater was built in 1936, designed by engineer Francisco Palma Travassos in Art Deco architecture, and the inmates worked on its construction. It was used exclusively by the patients for festive, cultural, and leisure activities. In the 1960s, compulsory internment was abolished. Today the complex is listed by the Municipal Council of Historical Heritage. The site is now occupied by the Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento and the Teatro Padre Bento. The construction was listed by the Municipality of Guarulhos in 2000.

• 2000

  Construction listed as heritage site by the Municipality of Guarulhos.

• 1960

  Compulsory internment abolished.

• 1936

  Theater built, designed by engineer Francisco Palma Travassos in Art Deco style, with inmate labor.

• 1931

  Sanatorium Padre Bento inaugurated on 5 June by Antônio José Trindade; acquired by the Government of the State of São Paulo and converted into a leprosy confinement facility.

Historical public health institution for leprosy confinement; now a heritage-listed site and hospital complex.

1. 1Sanatorium Padre Bento - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento - Wikipedia (Portuguese)pt.wikipedia.org