World Leprosy Day: Awareness Key To Reducing Stigma – Expert - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Publisher (F.BA)
January 27, 2020
A Public Health Expert, Mercy Ekele says raising awareness on leprosy disease and dispelling misinformation are key to reducing the stigmitisation that victims suffer.
Ekele spoke in Abuja, as the world marked this year’s WorldLeprosy Day, with the theme for this year’s ceremony as: “Ending Discrimination,Stigma and Prejudice”.
Leprosy is an infectious disease of the skin and nerveswhich, if not diagnosed and treated quickly, could result in debilitatingdisabilities. The effects of leprosy are exacerbated by the negative stigmasurrounding the disease.
The expert said leprosy is curable and was not transmittedby casual contact between people. She said that people being treated could livea normal life if given the opportunity.
Ekele urged the Federal Government to be committed to theefforts toward eliminating leprosy, and against the stigmatisation andexclusion that people with leprosy suffer. She noted that very little had beenachieved by the government towards reducing discrimination and the stigma facedby Nigerians affected with leprosy.
The World Leprosy Day is celebrated on January 30th, toincrease public awareness of the disease.