The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV /AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has successfully treated 17 leprosy cases at various locations in the state in 2017.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Mansur Mustapha Dada disclosed this in Bauchi at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat on the achievements recorded by the agency.
He said that the cases were discovered and treated at Kuturun Kuka, a lepers colony in Alkaleri local government.
He said that the agency launched a mini leprosy elimination campaign in 2017 in Settlements that had high number of leprosy cases in the state.
Dr Dada added that other activities were also carried out by the agency which led to reduction in the number of cases and the effects of the disease on its patients.
He said that the federal ministry of health in December 2017 awarded best Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control program to the state in recognition of BACATMA ‘s initiatives.
" Our key planned activities in 2018 are house to house distribution of 4 Million mosquito nets across the state, expansion of HIV PMTCT sites from 170 to 407 with delivery of quality services , mini leprosy elimination in selected settlements with high number of cases to fast track leprosy elimination in Bauchi State,"he said.