Concern On Leprosy Cases

It seems that the goal of maintaining Nepal as a totally leprosy-free nation is not free from challenges. Re-emergence of cases makes it difficult to keep that status permanently. In fact Nepal had achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in December 2009.  The disease was declared eliminated in 2010. But the matter of concern is that new cases continue to surface, mostly in the Terai districts. This poses a public health problem for Nepal which the health sector needs to deal with seriously. The reasons of the disease raising its head need to be found out. This requires an extensive research work by concerned experts and the recommendations made by them need to be considered and addressed in a time-bound manner. It might be the open border between Nepal and India or the negligence of the people who are under medication for leprosy that might be behind the case resurfacing. They need to be found out and remedial measures applied on time. 

According to the Leprosy Control and Disability Management Section of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services, 2,285 new leprosy patients were detected in Nepal within a year.  Leprosy cases have reported from 16 different districts including Bara, Jhapa, Morang, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Achham. According to the available data, 2,373 people have become disabled due to leprosy. A more concerning factor is that 73 patients out of them were children. The Madhes Province also has witnessed a total of   910 leprosy cases which is around 40 per cent of the total cases recorded across the nation. In Madhesh Province, Saptari  is the only district that has no leprosy cases so far.  Likewise, 581 leprosy cases have been found in Lumbini Province, 345 in Province 1, 205 in Sudurpaschim and 68 in Karnali. 

Those who have developed leprosy suffer not only medically, they also face unwanted treatment in the society which makes their life even harder. It is undeniable that this disease is completely curable given proper and timely treatment. But many people remain undiagnosed due to the prevalent social stigma. There are people who do not come out to see the doctor and seek timely treatment. Instead, they keep the cases hidden until it is too late. This points to the need for social awareness against leprosy besides medical treatment. The disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth of the infected people. In order to catch the disease, prolonged close contact with untreated leprosy patients is needed.  When the patient begins the treatment, there is no chance of transmitting the disease. So, people should seek medical help and complete the prescribed course of medication.  Doctors say that more than 99 per cent of germs are inactivated once multidrug therapy is started. 

Leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability. Apart from the physical deformity, persons affected by leprosy also face stigmatisation and discrimination. According to World Health Organisation, leprosy is diagnosed by tracing at least one of the symptoms such as definite loss of sensation in a pale or reddish skin patch, thickened or enlarged peripheral nerve, with loss of sensation and/or weakness of the muscles supplied by that nerve and microscopic detection of bacilli in a slit-skin smear, among others. It is important people do not hide the early symptoms and the concerned authorities conduct massive awareness of the disease. It is not the result of some sin as the superstitious belief goes but just a disease that can be cured.