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Leprosy Patients Call For Help

Leprosy Patients Call For Help

Patients suffering from leprosy in the country have expressed concern over continued challenges they are facing to access basic needs.

Some concerned patients Julius Martin and Esther Chalekela have told Zodiak that they are living a miserable life.

"We are facing discrimination, our relatives abandoned us in Hospital and we are eating once a day ,we are lacking basic needs like food, clothes, beddings and shelter."

"But health workers are helping us a lot, we are taking medication and we are recovering from the disease. We are pleading with other patients in villages not to lose hope but rush to the hospital in good time," msaid the patients.

District Leprosy Officer for Dedza Florence Meke told Zodiak that currently the district has 30 leprosy cases.

"Currently we have adequate medication for leprosy but lack of information about the disease among most people and inadequate training for health workers is a challenge," said Meke.

While District Leprosy Officer for Mangochi Mercy Jamu said currently, the district has 50 active leprosy cases.

"Leprosy is treated easily when diagnosed during early stages and we are pleading with people to rush to the hospitals the moment they observe signs and symptoms of the disease."

On his part, District Leprosy Officer for Balaka George Anafi said the number of leprosy cases is increasing now at 52 in the district.

"lack of mobility to conduct mobile clinics, to follow up of defaulters, to conduct mass screening in villages and in schools are challenges compromising effort to deal with the disease," said Anafi.

Meanwhile, the country has 233 leprosy cases.

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Last modified on Monday, 30/05/2022

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