Nigeria records 3000 new cases of leprosy anually

The federal government has revealed that Nigeria records about 3,000 new cases of leprosy, second after Ethiopia each year, and more disturbing are the new cases in children which is reported to be above 10%.
It also reported that the problem with the ancient disease cannot be said to be over as deficiency of knowledge about the signs and symptoms is lacking as even most health workers do not know the traits.
This was disclosed weekend, by the minister of health, Prof Isaac Adewole, during the World Leprosy Day briefing which was organised by The Leprosy Mission, Nigeria, in commemoration of the63rd forth coming Leprosy Day which takes place on the last sunday of January each year and with the 2016 theme as “Zero Disability in Children affected by Leprosy.”
The minister who was represented by the director of family health in the ministry, Dr Wapada Balami, said stigma and discrimination which are still challenges associated with the disease as well as myths have continued to embarrass the victims of the disease to the extent that they are not any better even after they have been cured.
He said the federal government has developed a national policy on strategic plan from 2016-2020 which is committed to working with partners towards achieving the Bangkok commitment of 2013 which stipulates that the disease should be addressed by government of highly endemic countries.
“This ancient disease has caused so much pains to humans with about 3,000 new cases every year and more worrisome is the fact that it’s new manifestation also affects children and this can be tied to socio- economic response and healthcare challenges.”
“Nigeria has developed a national policy on strategic plan which includes reaching the unreached, combating stigma and discrimination, expedite partnership, ensuring that treatment is conclusive and availability of healthcare services” among others.
It is expected that at the end of 2020, visible and recorded achievements will include “aiming to reach 0.1 case per million population, zero grade 2 disabilities among new child leprosy cases and all States to report less than 1% case.”
The national director of TLM, Dr Moses Onoh, said the Mission is out to create awareness about the disease so that people can understand it’s signs, symptoms, prevention as well as treatment, based on the standard of the World Health Organisation, WHO.
He said referring to victims of the disease as lepers is derogatory and as such, the proper way to define them is “ persons affected by leprosy as it is a disease that can affect anyone and therefore called for good general Hygiene as the disease is caused by germs that reside and breed in dirty environments.
He said “they are not lepers but persons affected by leprosy. The reason why the ailment still persists is because most people do not know the signs and symptoms and so do not come out early enough for treatment. “
“The deformities you see on persons affected by leprosy is a result of late treatment but is not leprosy in itself. Most of them do not come for treatment until they are faced with the deformities.It’s just a deformity which can also occur in other ailments. It is not contagious and can be treated and the treatment is free.”
“We always advise that once a patch is discovered on the skin, such persons should go for test because it can be a sign of leprosy. The patches do not often itch and are not painful. However, that a patch has been seen on the skin doesn't mean it is leprosy until a test has been done and proven otherwise.”
He said there are wonder drugs that care cure the disease and called on medical doctors to always refer pregnant women for test whenever a patch has been noticed on their bodies during check-up as loss of fingers is not a parameter to diagnosing the disease.
He revealed that there are four organisations in Nigeria which oversee leprosy- related diseases and are committed to its total eradication. They are based in Enugu, Enugu state, Jos, in Plateau state, Ibadan in Oyo state and Abuja the federal capital territory which are situated in the south-east, south-west, north-central and the nation’s capital respectively.
The climax of the event was the official unveiling of the national goodwill ambassador for leprosy, Chief Chika Okpala, an elder statesman who has contributed immensely towards national development through comedy and other television as well as stage performances. Most remembered of his television performance is “the new Masquerade.”
Source: leadership NG