Sokoto Records 197 Leprosy Cases in 2016

By Mohammed Aminu

The Coordinator of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Health Programme, Sokoto State, Alhaji Shehu Tureta, on Wednesday said at least 197 persons affected by leprosy were registered by the programme for treatment from January till date.

He made the disclosure at a workshop organised by the Leprosy Mission of Nigeria(LMN) in Sokoto.

He stated that the 197 persons affected by leprosy were currently being treated through the multi-drug therapy – Rifampicin, Clofazimine and Dapsone.

Tureta noted that Sokoto which was hitherto the fourth state with highest prevalence in 1992, has made tremendous progress in the fight against leprosy and other tropical diseases.

“It is is true that in 1992, Sokoto was among the high endemic states but with the adoption of the multi drug therapy, we now record one case per 10,000 persons and leprosy is at an elimination stage in the state.

“Although we still have a lot of work to do to eradicate it but we have eliminated leprosy as a public health problem in Sokoto,”Tureta said.

He explained that cardinal signs of leprosy include skin lesion with loss of sensation and peripheral nerved enlargment with or without damage.
The Coordinator urged those affected by the disease to go to the nearest health facility to receive treatment, saying drugs are provided free.

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