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.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/01/25/news40.asp
No comments:
Post a Comment