DRC - Leprosy 2024

[Pathfinder]

​
Tanganyika Province
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_Province

------------------------------------------------------------

Translation Google

Persistence of leprosy in Moba despite control efforts

Wednesday January 17, 2024 - 6:04 p.m.

In Tanganyika province, cases of leprosy patients continue to persist, despite the efforts of health workers in the province to eradicate the disease. Since 2019, out of more than 260 cases recorded in Moba, around a hundred have recovered to date, according to figures put forward by Ndayile Philippe, the supervisor of the response against leprosy and tuberculosis in the Moba health zone.

“The province of Tanganyika has been confronted with leprosy for several years, and particularly in Moba, the endemic in question persists constantly and remains far from being eradicated, unlike the rest of our country. In any case, there are positive signals that allow us to speculate on the eradication of the pathology in view of the results recorded over the last four years. In 2019, more than 265 cases of leprosy were confirmed in Moba. There are more than 145 newly reported cases today,” explained the official, who assured that treatment of leprosy cases is free in all hospitals and health facilities in the state.

Overall, leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, the main bacteria responsible for the contagion. This disease manifests itself by damage to the skin, peripheral nerves, the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is curable, and treatment at an early stage helps prevent disability. People affected by leprosy may have organ deformities that may atrophy.

Leprosy is spread by droplets from the nose and mouth. Just casual contact with a person with leprosy, such as shaking their hand, hugging them, sharing a meal, or sitting next to them, is not enough to cause the disease. In addition, the patient ceases to be contagious from the start of treatment.

In the Greater Katanga region, leprosy remains endemic, especially in several villages located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, including Moba-Port, Kapakwe, Regeza and Murungizi. According to WHO data released in 2023, the number of new cases reported was between 1,000 and 10,000 in 13 tropical countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jean Marie Makuma

https://actualite.cd/2024/01/17/persistance-de-la-lepre-moba-malgre-des-efforts-de-lutte

 

[Pathfinder]

​
Province of Équateur
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Équateur

---------------------

Translation Google

Equateur: 7 health zones affected by leprosy

Posted on Jul 20, 2024 at 6:16 pm

Seven of the eighteen health zones in the provincial health division of Equateur have recorded more than one hundred cases of leprosy detected during awareness campaigns and voluntary screening in the field.

In his communication of Friday July 19, the coordinator of leprosy and tuberculosis specifies that among the 7 affected health zones, Bolomba comes first with 45 cases of leprosy, Basakusu, Djombo, Ingende, Lotumbe, Bomongo and Monieka share more than 60 cases.

Dr Blaise Ndomo Bopeke invites all suspected cases to be screened free of charge in time in order to reduce consequences such as slow fractures of the fingers which lead to disability.

Leprosy is a chronic disease of bacterial origin. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases. The infectious agent responsible for leprosy is the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. The latter seems to be transmitted by nasal droplets during close and frequent contact with infected and untreated people.

The symptoms of this disease are more white spots on the bodies. This disease mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. The nerve damage causes numbness and weakness in the areas controlled by the affected nerves.

Prince Wello

https://www.congo-press.com/sante/equateur-7-zones-de-sante-touchees-par-la-lepre/

​