Health concerns: Experts stress elimination of leprosy

ISLAMABAD: Health experts have urged creating awareness among public on the treatment and prevention of leprosy. According to them, it is high time to allocate a special fund aimed towards the eradication of leprosy. Though leprosy control activities are being supported and sponsored by many government and non-governmental organisations for more than 40 years, more initiatives are required. Dr Wasim Khawaja from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences said that leprosy is caused by slow-growing germs. It is transmitted via droplets emerging from the nose and mouths of untreated patients with severe disease. If left untreated, the disease can cause nerve damage, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and other permanent disabilities. Initial symptoms of the disease show up as light, painless patches on the skin coupled with lack of sensation in the limbs, arms or hands. Khawaja said that antibiotics are capable of annihilating the bacteria, and a few months of treatment can completely sure the disease.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2012.