By Asma’u Ahmad
The Federal Government said it will integrate leprosy control activities into healthcare delivery services.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known in a statement issued by the Director Media and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs Boade Akinola, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The minister said this while commemorating the 2017 World Leprosy Day in Umuahia, Abia state, noting that the proposed plan would institute renewed focus on preventing disability and promote socio-economic rehabilitation of the victims.
Prof. Isaac Adewole
Newsmen report that last Sunday of every January is set aside as World Leprosy Day. The day is set aside to create awareness and mobilise support for Leprosy control measures.
This year’s celebration is the 64th anniversary held on January 29, 2017, with the theme “Zero disability among children affected by leprosy.”
Professor Adewole recalled that the Federal Ministry of Health had also launched a five-year National Leprosy Strategic Plan (2016-2020) in 2016.
He said that the strategic plan facilitated the implementation of appropriate strategies to increase case detection, improved treatment outcome, prevent disabilities and provide rehabilitation service to the affected persons.
Prof. Adewole denounced speculations in some parts of the country that Leprosy was a heaven’s punishment.
However, he noted that the disease was not a heaven’s punishment but a disease that was curable.
“There were many mistaken believes about Leprosy disease that it was highly contagious, hereditary, heaven’s punishment and these negatively affected persons with Leprosy even after they have been cured,” said the minister.
He called on families and the public not to discriminate against persons affected with Leprosy, adding that such people need care, love and support from families and the public.
