No fewer than 20 new cases of leprosy have been recorded in Kogi State, after an earlier claim that the state was free of the disease.
The Programme Officer, Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Mrs Hannah Fashona told journalists in Lokoja that the new cases were recorded between January and November 2020.
Fashona, who spoke at the distribution of palliatives to the less privileged, noted that the organisation was determined to ensure that Nigeria was free from the disease, adding that the state referral centre in Ochadamu, has succeeded in treating some patients affected with the disease.
According to her, it is on record that due to fear and lack of knowledge over three million people across the world are living with undiagnosed leprosy, which is causing more damage to their health.
The LMN programme officer added that more than 600 people are diagnosed with leprosy in the world daily, saying that over 50 percent of those hard hit are the children.
This alarming rate, she pointed out, has prompted the Mission to embark on daily research to achieve zero leprosy in the world.
According to her, some of these patients don’t come when it is early but come only when it is either grade one or grade two disabilities, a situation that may be difficult to attend to.
Through sustained awareness, prevention, treatment and follow-up, she expressed optimism that LMN would continue to support people so that they could live a normal life.
Fashona said the palliatives would be distributed to the most vulnerable persons and those living with disabilities.
“If this pandemic could cripple businesses in nations across the world, how much more of these people of this caliber. It is obvious that their own situation will be terrible, which informed the two bodies to come to the need of the vulnerable ones.
“Over 80 households across the three senatorial districts will benefit from the palliatives and it is believed that it will go a long way at reducing hunger in the land.”
Receiving the palliatives, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Buba, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs Adegbola Elizabeth Fumilayo thanked the donors for the kind gesture.
Adegbola warned the beneficiaries not to sell the items as they were meant for their household consumption.
Items distributed include foodstuffs ranging from rice, beans, garri, noodles, oil, seasoning, sugar, salt and personal hygiene materials.
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