In a concerted effort to combat the age-old stigma surrounding leprosy and promote global awareness, World Leprosy Day brought together communities, organizations, and individuals under the theme “Beat Leprosy.” The day served as a powerful reminder that compassion, understanding, and education are crucial in overcoming misconceptions associated with the disease.
World Leprosy Day (WLD) is an intentional global healthcare event that is yearly recognized in other to create awareness of leprosy, which has been scheduled on the last Sunday of every January for the past 69 years. In line with this tradition, 2024 World Leprosy Day was observed on 28 January, Sunday.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a contagious disease caused by a microbe called Mycobacterium leprae, a specific bacterium that attacks the neurological system of the human body. It mostly affects the hand, leg, and face. Although being a chronic, curable infectious disease mainly causing skin lesions and nerve damage, if diagnosed early and treated on time it can be stopped from spreading.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leprosy is one of the oldest and most misunderstood diseases in the world. Although it has now been curable for more than 30 years, it still has the power to stigmatize.
WHO emphasizes that the two objectives to mark the day include eradicating the stigma labeled leprosy and promoting the dignity of people affected by the disease.
As Nigeria joins the global community today to mark the 2024 World Leprosy Day, medical experts say the disease is still a major problem in the country, giving an arithmetic computation that over 2,000 cases are recorded year after year.
Symptoms of Leprosy may include; discolored patches of skin(usually flat which may be numb and look faded), growth on the skin, thick/stiff or dry skin, painless ulcers on the soles of the feet, painless swellings or lumps on the face or earlobes, loss of eyebrows or eyelashes etc.
Medical experts have deplored that the lack of adequate information and knowledge about the disease has led to pervasive stigma and discrimination against people with leprosy.
According to them, many people have a wrong stereotype that leprosy is highly contagious and therefore are scared of coming in contact with those that have it.
According to the WHO, the disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth. When delayed, close contact over months with someone with untreated leprosy would expose such a person to contact with the disease.
Many physicians are advocating for more public awareness campaigns concerning the disease, including the necessary information about how it can be contaminated and measures in which it can be treated when contacted.
While stressing that there has been an improvement in treatment with the introduction of multidrug therapy for leprosy patients, these experts also pointed out that there are also a series of growing concerns about the disease.
Dr. Sebastian Oiwoh, a consultant Dermatologist and Venereologist. and also the chairman of the National Committee on Neglected Tropical Issues highlighted that Nigeria is still among 17 countries that still report over 1,000 cases of leprosy yearly.
While stressing the need to tackle the social and psychological problems and trauma associated with leprosy, Dr. Oiwoh advised that the disease should be identified early so that it can be treated not until it has begun to cause disabilities.
“Leprosy is a chronic stigmatizing bacterial infection that mainly affects the skin and nerves but can affect other body parts. It is a disabling or deforming infection if care is not taken,” He said.
“According to the 2022 data from National Tuberculosis, Leprosy Allan’s Buruli Ulcer Control program, 2,393 new cases were recorded with a majority having multibacillary leprosy and the data highlighted that more than one-third of females were affected and about a tenth of children were affected,” Dr. Oiwoh added.
He also added that conjoined efforts by everyone will help eliminate leprosy.
He further stated that “Appropriate clinical care, social and psychological support to persons with leprosy is paramount stopping the stigmatisation and social ostracization for which the infection has been known in the past when there was no available cure.”
Likewise, Dr. Tope Agboola, an epidemiologist at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun state explained that people with leprosy in the past were isolated and discriminated from the society and which is not so now.
She emphasized the need for a better approach to addressing the problem associated with Leprosy which includes involvement from the education, health, and social sectors.
She said, “Leprosy is a curable disease, but it requires a long-term commitment to tackle the root causes and ensure that everyone has access to the care and support they need.”
“We need to continue to invest in public health infrastructure and ensure that the needs of people with leprosy are prioritized in the country’s development agenda.
“Leprosy is a complex issue that requires a holistic response. It is not just a medical problem, but also a social and economic issue. We need to ensure that people with leprosy have access to education and employment opportunities, as well as the necessary social support.” She added.
As Nigeria aligns itself with the global effort to “Beat Leprosy,” the nation stands at the forefront of change, striving to create an environment where every individual, regardless of their health status, is embraced and supported. The local commitment showcased on World Leprosy Day signifies a transformative step towards a future where leprosy is not only treatable but where stigma and discrimination are eradicated.
To commemorate the global event, the Community Relations Officer of the Leprosy Mission, Nigeria, TLMN, and Coordinator of the Missions volunteers, Habila Daniel Diko carried out a sanitation exercise with volunteers at the Leprosarium in Niger State capital, Minna on Saturday, January 27.
Habila Diko explained the role of the Mission in improving the living standards of leprosy patients by providing free medical attention, three square meals daily to the patients, and ensuring that patients who had amputated legs were also given prosthetic limbs while revealing that scholarships with full learning materials inclusive are being given to children of patients who are in the community.
