By Kemo Cham
[First published on www.politicosl.com] Sierra Leone is on target to
eliminate the bacterial disease Leprosy, a health official has said in
Freetown.
Dr. Lynda Foray, Programme Manager,
National Leprosy and TB Control Programme at the ministry of health and
sanitation, MoHS, said in the six decades of fight against the disease Sierra
Leone had “enviably” reached the prevalence rate of less than one leprosy
patient per every ten thousand of the population.
He said that meant that the country
had not only reached the elimination target as set out by the World Health
organization, WHO, but that it had also been able to maintain it.
According to the ministry, Sierra
Leone’s leprosy incidences had progressed as follows: “in 2011 there were 274
cases; in 2013 it was reduced to 202; and by 2014 it significantly came down to
145,” adding that by the end of 2015 the number of new leprosy cases registered
went further down to 133.
“All is not lost because leprosy is
curable and treatment is available free of cost,” Dr Foray said at the
commemoration of the sixty-third World Leprosy Day, last Tuesday [February 2].
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s
disease, is a contagious disease that affects the skin and nerves, and it
causes discoloration and lumps on the skin. It primarily affects the peripheral
nerves, skin, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and nasal mucosa. In severe cases
it causes disfigurement and deformities.
The disease is caused by the
rod-shaped bacillus bacterium, known as Mycobacterium leprae.
Researchers are still not clear
about the exact mode of transmission of leprosy, although it is widely believed
that the bacteria are spread via the respiratory system through nasal droplets.
Contact to broken skin is also considered as a possibility, because the M.
leprae is believed to survive best at low temperatures and primarily affects
the superficial sites of the skin and peripheral nerves.
World Leprosy Day is observed
annually around the world to raise global awareness on the disease. The town of
Kenema hosted this year’s occasion in Sierra Leone.
It was convened under the theme:
“Take action against Stigma and Discrimination Now! Prevent Transmission of
Leprosy in Children.”
The MoHS has vowed to take proactive
measures to ensure early detection and treatment of the disease with a notable
focus on prevention of transmission in children. The ministry is also concerned
about acts of discrimination and stigmatization against people affected by
leprosy.
Stigma was at the center of the
address in a televised speech of the minister of health, Dr. Abu Bakarr
Fofanah, in commemoration of the day.
While reiterating the fact that the
disease is curable, Dr Fofanah said his ministry was inclined to join hands
with the President of the International Federation of Anti- Leprosy Association
to counter all acts and forms of discrimination and stigmatization against
people affected by leprosy.
“We are taking proactive measures to
ensure early detection and treatment of Leprosy, to prevent transmission to children”
he said.
The German Leprosy and TB Relief
Association (GLRA), and WHO are major partners of the MoHS in the fight against
leprosy.
Cyril Johnson, Country
Representative of GLRA, reiterated his organisation’s commitment to continue
supporting Sierra Leone in the fight to eradicate the disease in the country.
(C) Politico 09/02/16
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