Eradicating Leprosy: Prevention of disease urged

In Pakistan leprosy control activities being supported, sponsored by government, NGOs for more than 40 years.

ISLAMABAD:

Health experts on Wednesday urged to create awareness among public on treatment and prevention of leprosy to alleviate the sufferings of its patients.

According to them, it is a high time to encourage the flow of funds, which are imperative to take the cause of leprosy eradication from the country.

They said in Pakistan leprosy control activities are being supported and sponsored by many government and non-governmental organisations for more than 40 years.

According to recent estimate Leprosy is common in the poorer regions of the world, India is home to nearly 70 percent of the leprosy cases in the world.

Dr Wasim Khawaja from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said leprosy is caused by a slow-growing bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae , it is transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth of untreated patients with severe form of the  disease, but it is not highly infectious, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2012.