Recently, Dr Sarah Byakika the Commissioner in Charge of Planning at the Ministry of Health said that Leprosy is still a problem in the country with 50% of the patients reporting Grade 2 Leprosy presenting among persons with disability at the time of the first diagnosis against the 13.8% target rate.
The Amuru district health department is investigating eight
suspected cases of the leprosy disease in the area.
Louis Obalo, the Amuru District TB and Leprosy Focal Point
Person disclosed on Monday that the samples were last week picked from the
people and have been taken for testing at Mulago Hospital in Kampala.
He explained that Amuru district is currently treating six cases
of Leprosy, of which three were newly notified during the recent National
TB/Leprosy awareness campaign.
Clovice Oywello Goodluck, the Amuru district health educator
told URN that the suspects presented with signs and symptoms of Leprosy.
Symptoms include light-colored or red skin patches with reduced
sensation, numbness, and weakness in hands and feet.
George Ocan, the Amuru District Secretary for Health says that
upon confirmation the patients will be enrolled on treatment.
//Cue in: ‘’so right
now…//Cue out: …treatment
dong.’’//
At least 26 cases of grade two leprosy disease were last year
reported in the Acholi Sub Region. The report indicates that the cases are many
among persons with disabilities.
Recently, Dr Sarah Byakika the Commissioner in Charge of
Planning at the Ministry of Health said that Leprosy is still a problem in the
country with 50% of the patients reporting Grade 2 Leprosy presenting among
persons with disability at the time of the first diagnosis against the 13.8%
target rate.
She attributes this to low awareness of leprosy and delayed
diagnosis, something she says calls for increased awareness about the disease.
Leprosy is a chronic, curable infectious disease mainly causing
skin lesions and nerve damage. It is caused by infection with the bacterium
Mycobacterium leprae and mainly affects the skin, eyes, nose, and peripheral
nerves.
Leprosy can be cured with 6-12 months of multi-drug therapy.
Early treatment averts disability.
The Ministry of Health states that Uganda has achieved the
target of eliminating Leprosy as a public health problem however, several
new Leprosy cases continues to be notified annually.
In 2009, the case detection rate was 1.2/100,000. New cases
continue to occur but 2/3 of cases came from only 13 out of 112 districts. New
cases are unevenly distributed and this complicates Leprosy control efforts.
Emmy Daniel Ojara
Freelancer