NEPAL: Leprosy to be eliminated in two years

The end of hostilities in Nepal and the new political climate could help the Himalayan country to eradicate leprosy in two years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The decade-long armed conflict between the Maoist rebels and the Nepalese state had killed over 14,000 Nepalese and had also seriously hampered development work mostly in the rural areas, said officials from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Health education and awareness activities were among the most affected by the conflict and health workers had been facing difficulty of travelling in many villages due to fear of getting caught in the armed encounters between the rebels and the government security forces.

"We are hopeful that Nepal's goal of eliminating leprosy will now be achieved," said Kan Tun, head of the WHO mission to Nepal. He added that Nepal has made commendable progress in reducing the burden of leprosy.

In 1966, Nepal had an estimated 100,000 leprosy cases. But with the introduction of multi-drug therapy (MDT), an effective treatment for the disease, the prevalence of leprosy dropped swiftly from 21 cases per 10,000 people in early 1980s to only 1.65 per 10,000 by 2006, according to the National Leprosy Elimination Programme (NLEP) run jointly by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the WHO.

The MDT became so effective in reducing the leprosy problem that its services expanded to all 75 districts of Nepal by 1996. However, as in Brazil, Congo, Mozambique and Tanzania, the disease remains a public health problem.

"The issue of leprosy has been accorded a top priority by our government and we want to ensure that additional investment is made towards the leprosy elimination work," said health minister Amik Sherchan. He added that Nepal was the only country in South Asia to have leprosy, adding that it would only be a matter of time before it was stamped out.

According to NLEP, leprosy has already been eliminated in most of the country with less than 1 percent prevalence in 44 districts. Nearly 80 percent of the cases are located in 20 districts in the southern plains, also known as the tarai region.

"Treatment compliance is now exceptionally good and services are very effective, and we are headed in the right direction," said Mangalchand Jain, head of NLEP.

However, Jain added that there was still need for more awareness among the patients who arrive late at the hospitals for leprosy treatment. He explained that the government has to do more to mobilise more health workers to help carry out leprosy education programmes in the villages where the disease is still an issue.

NLEP said that education programmes focus on how leprosy is today easily curable and there is free treatment available in many hospitals around the country. This also includes sensitising local communities about how the persons affected by this disease can still lead a normal life and does not pose any threat to anyone.

It added that there is need to upscale sensitisation activities in remote areas where the people affected with the disease often hide due to fear of social stigma

Source: Reuters Foundation More

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