Ebele Egoh writes...
Anambra Government State has taken the bull by the horn by showing its commitment to completely eradicate leprosy in the state through continued intervention in terms of awareness creation on the prevalence of the ailment, and provision of drugs for the treatment of the disease.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Health Dr Joe Akabuike who was represented by the Director, Public Health in the State Ministry of Health, Dr Emma Okafor during a media briefing to mark 2017 World Leprosy Day in Awka.
According to the Commissioner, ‘‘World Leprosy Day which is marked annually on every last Sunday in the month of January remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria with an average of 4,000 leprosy cases reported annually in the country.
Speaking on the theme of 2017 World Leprosy Day, which is zero disabilities in children affected by Leprosy, Dr Akabuike noted that in the past ‘‘a high proportion of children have been diagnosed with obvious deformities and disabilities as a result of the ailment’’.
He therefore, called for continued support by the non-governmental organizations and other well spirited individuals to help achieve this year’s theme on World Leprosy Day.
His words, ‘‘the goal of Leprosy control is to reduce its prevalence and socio-economic burden associated with it to such a level that it is no longer a public health problem in the state and Nigeria in general’’.
The symptoms and signs of leprosy are light or reddish skin parches which does not itch, loss or decrease feeling in the skin, numbness or tingling sensation of hands and feet, weakness of hands feet and eyelids, and swellings of lumps in the face or earlobes.
Dr. Akabuike stated that the treatment of leprosy and drugs are available in all government hospitals, Local Governments and all the Primary Health Centers in the state.
He advised the carriers to cover their mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing and properly dispose the nasal discharges to avoid spreading the virus that causes the ailment.
Anambra Government State has taken the bull by the horn by showing its commitment to completely eradicate leprosy in the state through continued intervention in terms of awareness creation on the prevalence of the ailment, and provision of drugs for the treatment of the disease.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Health Dr Joe Akabuike who was represented by the Director, Public Health in the State Ministry of Health, Dr Emma Okafor during a media briefing to mark 2017 World Leprosy Day in Awka.
According to the Commissioner, ‘‘World Leprosy Day which is marked annually on every last Sunday in the month of January remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria with an average of 4,000 leprosy cases reported annually in the country.
Speaking on the theme of 2017 World Leprosy Day, which is zero disabilities in children affected by Leprosy, Dr Akabuike noted that in the past ‘‘a high proportion of children have been diagnosed with obvious deformities and disabilities as a result of the ailment’’.
He therefore, called for continued support by the non-governmental organizations and other well spirited individuals to help achieve this year’s theme on World Leprosy Day.
His words, ‘‘the goal of Leprosy control is to reduce its prevalence and socio-economic burden associated with it to such a level that it is no longer a public health problem in the state and Nigeria in general’’.
The symptoms and signs of leprosy are light or reddish skin parches which does not itch, loss or decrease feeling in the skin, numbness or tingling sensation of hands and feet, weakness of hands feet and eyelids, and swellings of lumps in the face or earlobes.
Dr. Akabuike stated that the treatment of leprosy and drugs are available in all government hospitals, Local Governments and all the Primary Health Centers in the state.
He advised the carriers to cover their mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing and properly dispose the nasal discharges to avoid spreading the virus that causes the ailment.
