Ebonyi State – The Ebonyi State commissioner for health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike
on Tuesday said that the state governor, Chief David Umahi as part of
his determination to restore the dignity of treated leprosy patients
in the state and create empowerment opportunity for them has since
assumption of office constructed, equipped and handed over 12
bungalows to the patient and empowerment facilities to enable them
have roof over their heads and a source of livelihood.
Briefing journalists in Abakaliki to mark this Year’s World Leprosy
Day, Dr. Umezurike disclosed that between 2015 and 2016, the State
recorded a total of 543 Leprosy cases which according to him has
reduced the prevalence rate from 5.4 % per 10,000 in 1997 to less than
0.9% per 10,000 in December 2016.
According to the Commissioner, 2,021 Ex Leprosy patients with various
disabilities require social economic rehabilitation in the state and
that the government was doing everything possible to rehabilitate them
adding that leprosy was treatable and curable but that some of the
disabilities cannot easily be treated as it causes permanent damage to
the peripheral nerves and skin.
‘’We have been doing a lot to rehabilitate those with permanent
disabilities. Every year, we build at least six buildings to
rehabilitate these patients in their various homes. We look for them
and build for them’’, he said.
He disclosed that six more buildings will be built for the patients by
the state government as captured by this year’s budget and expressed
regret that most of the patients have lost their jobs because of the
stigma they receive from members of the public as a result of the
disease and called for elimination of stigmatization against the
patients.
According to Umezuruike, only about 5% of people globally are actually
susceptible to leprosy due to malnutrition in the gene responsible for
conferring immunity.
The Commissioner during the occasion confirmed the death of a 40 year
old woman in the State of lassa fever and attributed the death to late
presentation and urged the people to always report suspected cases of
lassa fever and cholera to the appropriate authorities for quick
response.
“One case of lassa fever we are managing is a 40 year old woman that
presented on the 23rd of this month and was admitted because the
managing team suspected of lassa fever and the woman was admitted into
the virology centre in the state.
“Because of late presentation, she died the following day and all the
investigation has been done”, the commissioner stated.