Nasarawa State government has said it has recorded no fewer than 170 cases of leprosy disease.
The Acting Medical Director of Leprosy Colony at the ERCC Medical Centre, Alushi Village in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area Mr Dauda Kaze stated this yesterday as the state marked this year’s World Leprosy Day.
Kaze added that patients could not be treated due to non-availability of the needed drugs.
He said, between 2019 and last year, the hospital, which is the only referrer centre recorded about 130 cases, while over 40 new cases were said to have recorded between January 1 and 15 this year, noting that there is no drugs to treat patients.
He said the hospital had been recording new cases of leprosy daily but they could not admit them because they could not access care and treatment following non-supply of drugs by international partners and donors.
A supervisor in charge of leprosy unit in the hospital, Mr Musa Wuyah told our correspondent that between January 1 and 15, the hospital recorded over 40 new cases but the patients were not admitted due to non-availability of drugs.
He expressed worry over the imminent upsurge of the disease in the state due to non-availability of drugs to effect treatment and inadequate care for patients.
Leprosy, one of the oldest diseases is a chronic infectious disease which affects mainly the skin, the nerves, the respiratory tract and the eyes.
Nasarawa State Coordinator, Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Chronic Ulcers, Dr Danladi Aboki noted that leprosy could affect both the young and old and can be treated and cured if detected early.
Director, Public Health, Nasarawa State, Dr Ibrahim Alhasan reiterated government’s commitment towards providing care and treatment for leprosy patients.
