Health Commissioner Decries Stigmatisation Of Lepers

The Anambra State
Government has urged the society not to stigmatise the leprosy victims as part of strategies to eliminate leprosy in the state. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Josephat Akubuike, made the appeal in Awka while briefing newsmen on preparations for the World Leprosy Day celebrations.
Akubuike said the annual event, aimed at creating awareness about the disease, was usually observed around the world on the last Sunday of January but had been delayed in the state.
He said Gov. Willie Obiano of the state had donated items including food and toiletries for a party for the leprosy patients to mark this year’s event.
According to him, the state had 109 registered cases of leprosy, including 14 new cases in 2014.
The commissioner urged the patients to avail themselves of the opportunity for free drugs and treatment.
Akubuike said that some of the registered cases had been successfully treated and the cured patients re-united with their families.
He noted that early detection of the disease and proper medication went a long way in curing the patients.
He, however, said that some patients do not come out for treatment, believing the sickness had something to do with tradition.
“Leprosy is at the elimination stage globally, however, new cases are still being detected though on a downward trend,” the commissioner said.
Akubuike said that the chronic bacterial disease mainly affected the skin, peripheral nerves and mucus membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
According to him, it is being treated in all the 21 local government areas of the state and the drug is free.
He said the ministry had planned to visit the Father Damian Rehabilitation Centre, Nnewi and Okija Leprosy Rehabilitation Centres to mark the event with the patients.