Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://guardian.ng/news/fg-raises-concern-over-increasing-cases-of-leprosy-among-children/
FG raises concern over increasing cases of leprosy among children
By Chukwuma Muanya, Emeka Nwachukwu (Lagos) and Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze (Abuja)
28 January 2019 | 3:25 am
A man afflcited with leprosy (AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)
The Federal Government yesterday expressed worries over the continued presence of undetected Leprosy cases, especially among children in the country.
Speaking at the 2019 World Leprosy Day with the theme: Ending Discrimination, Stigma and Prejudice, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, noted that 2,442 new Leprosy cases were reported.
He said the National Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) notified the ministry about the development in 2017, saying 184 or 7.5 per cent of the cases were children, while 361 cases or 15 per cent had acquired irreversible disability, due to late presentation at health care facilities.
He added that 522 new Leprosy cases were reported in 2018, of which five per cent were children and 13 per cent were already with disability.
?This indicates ongoing transmission within communities; just as permanent disability indicates that cases existed unreported in communities for years,? he said...
FG raises concern over increasing cases of leprosy among children
By Chukwuma Muanya, Emeka Nwachukwu (Lagos) and Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze (Abuja)
28 January 2019 | 3:25 am
A man afflcited with leprosy (AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)
The Federal Government yesterday expressed worries over the continued presence of undetected Leprosy cases, especially among children in the country.
Speaking at the 2019 World Leprosy Day with the theme: Ending Discrimination, Stigma and Prejudice, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, noted that 2,442 new Leprosy cases were reported.
He said the National Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) notified the ministry about the development in 2017, saying 184 or 7.5 per cent of the cases were children, while 361 cases or 15 per cent had acquired irreversible disability, due to late presentation at health care facilities.
He added that 522 new Leprosy cases were reported in 2018, of which five per cent were children and 13 per cent were already with disability.
?This indicates ongoing transmission within communities; just as permanent disability indicates that cases existed unreported in communities for years,? he said...