The Albino Foundation Public Notice
In commemoration of World Leprosy Day 2022, the Nigerian Government and its partners have denounced the continued stigmatization of people living with the disease.
The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, speaking at a ministerial press conference to mark the day in Abuja on January 31, 2022, said stigma continues to have a negative impact on successful elimination of the disease and reintegration of cured people. in their communities.
Dr. Ehanire noted that leprosy is a public health problem and places the country among the last nations in the world to defeat the disease, with more than 1,000 new cases reported in a year.
In 2020, Nigeria reported 1,508 new cases, of which more than 13% had visible finger and toe deformities, and more than 6% were children.
“Efforts to combat the disease are still plagued by challenges. Stigma and discrimination against people affected by leprosy and their families remains a challenge. Mistaken beliefs that it is a contagious, hereditary, or ordered punishment, and fear of rejection by family and friends, deter victims from seeking early care if they suspect they have leprosy and discourage cured individuals from reintegrating into their communities .
The commemoration of World Leprosy Day 2022 draws attention to the plight of fellow citizens living with the age-old disease. We mark this occasion again with a review of Nigeria’s efforts to end the disease. Some 18 states continue to witness its characteristics as an endemic disease across the country, he said.
In his goodwill comment, WHO Country Representative (WR), Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, welcomed Nigeria’s efforts in Leprosy Programming and said the country is not out of the woods yet, as which remains important in the global roadmap for the eradication of leprosy.
The WR said reporting of new cases and Grade 2 disability is a problem among patients as cases could be prevented through early diagnosis, contact tracing and ensuring adherence to treatment.
He added that this year’s theme, “United for Dignity”, emphasizes the need for greater collaboration of all stakeholders to join forces and ensure greater efforts towards the elimination of leprosy and the prevention of the disabilities it causes.
WHO commitment
Dr. Mulombo pledged WHO’s commitment to collaborate with other key partners to intensify actions in support of the Federal Ministry of Health to mobilize the necessary national and international resources for the control, elimination and eradication of leprosy and other diseases. neglected tropical areas in the country.
He said that the WHO is also committed to facilitating the donation of all necessary medicines for leprosy as it has always done every year.
“Finally, I want to encourage people, communities and local governments to encourage surveillance, testing and treatment of leprosy and learn more about this disease, to end the silent epidemic,” he added.
World Leprosy Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday in January. Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by a slow-growing bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). “It is an ancient disease, described in the literature of ancient civilizations. Throughout history, affected people have often been ostracized by their communities and families.”
The commemoration aims to celebrate people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination.
