Doctors raise alarm, as over 8.3% new leprosy cases found in children below 15yrs

Nigerian doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have expressed worry over reports by its National Committee on Neglected Tropical Diseases which found that about 8.3 per cent of new leprosy cases are found in children below the age of 15.

According to the statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the NCNTD NMA, Dr Sebastine Oiwoh and Dr Ifeoluwa Adetula, respectively, to commemorate the World Leprosy Day on January 28, Nigeria still reported significant prevalence of leprosy from some states.

Although Nigeria has reached the leprosy elimination target, Nigeria is still among the 17 countries that still report more than 1,000 cases of leprosy annually.

Leprosy is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the skin and peripheral nerves but can affect other body parts, like the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes.

If left untreated, it becomes a chronic disabling or deforming disease, which results in visible deformities and stigma that affects the sufferers’ lives.

Oiwoh stated that there has been an improvement with the introduction of multidrug therapy for leprosy patients.

However, there were ongoing concerns that involved a low index of leprosy suspicion, low leprosy detection, ongoing transmission, and recycling of leprosy cases, amidst dwindling clinical skills.

“An annual average of 2,754 new cases with 93 per cent of them having the more severe disease that is infectious to others. Also, an average of 8.3 per cent of the new cases are children below 15 years, suggesting ongoing new infections. Of all the new cases an average of 14.3% present with grade 2 disabilities suggesting significant delay in the diagnosis of the disease.

“There is a need to appropriately deal with the social and psychological burden associated with leprosy. Hence, the 2024 World Leprosy Day theme is ‘Beat Leprosy,’.

“The need to stop the stigmatization associated with this highly disabling yet curable infection means the dignity and respect that are deserved should be accorded to all patients with leprosy. Their human rights to access and afford timely, effective, and efficiently safe health care must never be denied,” the statement read.

The doctor asserted that leprosy could not be transmitted through handshakes or sitting next to a person with leprosy on a bus.

“Leprosy, an ancient infection plaguing man, has numerous presentations. Therefore, there should be a high index of suspicion. It is advocated that leprosy should be picked at the earliest possible time, not when there are disabilities. That pale-coloured/copper-coloured/reddish skin rashes where the sensation of pain is lost (anaesthetic) with little to no sweating may just be what is needed for early diagnosis.

“Swollen nerves especially around the elbow, knee, and sides of the neck accompany other symptoms and signs of leprosy. There can also be temperature loss (hot or cold), light touch, and pain, especially on the hands and feet. This may first show as painless ulcers or burns on these sites that last longer than expected to heal.

“Other presentations may also include swellings (papules and nodules), ulcers (neuropathic ulcers), abnormal nerve functions like numbness among others, inability to close the eyes because of paralysis of the upper eyelid (lagophthalmos), and others, ” he added.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), says the five per cent budgetary allocation by the Federal Government in the 2024 budget is not enough to meet the numerous challenges confronting the health sector.

President of MDCAN, Prof. Mohammad Mohammad, disclosed after a communiqué was issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Uyo.

The theme of the NEC meeting is: “Health Care Delivery In The Face of A Dwindling Economy: Role of Public – Private Sector Partnerships.”

Mohammad said the association expressed concern that the country’s health budget was still a far cry from the Abuja declaration which prescribed at least 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the sector.

He therefore called on government at all levels to improve their budgetary allocations to the sector in order to meet with the Abuja declaration, as he further urged governments at all levels to put in place strategies to improve the economy to be able to improve the per capita spending on health.

“Government at all levels should endeavour to improve on its budgetary allocation to the health sector towards attaining the Abuja Declaration of at least 15 per cent.

“Consequently, government should put strategies in place to improve the economy of the nation in order to improve the per capita spending on health of the population.”

The MDCAN president called on government to ensure that rules and regulations concerning acquisition, transportation and storage of explosives are strictly adhered to, adding that this was to avoid a repeat of the Ibadan blast which consumed lives and property.

“MDCAN commiserates with the families of the victims of Ibadan blast and the Oyo Government.

“Government should ensure rules and regulations concerning acquisition, transportation, storage and the use of explosives are strictly adhered to.

“NEC advises all Nigerians, especially health care workers to have high index of suspicion of Lassa Fever, and observe universal precaution, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment,” he said.