Leprosy highest in Western Province
'Around 2,000 new patients every year':
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
Western Province records the highest number (42 percent) of leprosy
patients in the country. The second highest number of leprosy patients
(13 percent) is recorded from the Eastern Province. North Western
Province records the third highest number (11 percent) of leprosy
patients, Health Ministry additional secretary Dr Palitha Mahipala said.
He said the Southern Province records 10 percent of the total number
of leprosy patients reported in Sri Lanka.
"Around 2,000 new leprosy patients are reported in Sri Lanka every
year, although the country eliminated the disease in 1995 (according to
WHO certification)," Dr Mahipala said.
He said that the social marketing campaign implemented by Sri Lanka
in 1989 to control leprosy made a significant progress and was
recognized as one of the most successful social marketing campaigns in
the world.
"A five year programme is in progress in Sri Lanka to further
strengthen treatment and detect leprosy," he said. National Leprosy
Control Programme director Dr Nilanthi Fernando said that nine percent
of leprosy patients are children below the age of 15.
"Ten percent of leprosy patients seek treatment after they get
deformities. Around 56 percent of leprosy patients who seek treatment
abandon treatment after six months. Another 30 percent do not turn up
for treatment after the disease is diagnosed. Leprosy can be completely
cured with treatment. Non communicable leprosy needs treatment only for
six months and communicable leprosy needs treatment for one year.
Leprosy does not spread through patients undergoing treatment. Treatment
is available at state hospitals free of charge," she said.
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