The Leprosy Mission Nigeria has said over 50 children are diagnosed with leprosy decease daily around the world.
This was revealed by an officer of the mission, Mrs Hannah Fashona, at a COVID 19 palliative distribution programme for leprosy patients in Kogi state.
Fashona also said 600 adults are diagnosed with the decease daily in the world.
On Kogi State, she disclosed that 20 cases of leprosy were discovered between January and November 2020.
The LMN officer also faulted the claim by the Federal Government that the country has zero elimination campaign of leprosy, saying cases are discovered always.
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“The issue in Nigeria is not only limited to leprosy alone. The Federal Ministry of Health recently said they have recorded zero elimination campaign of leprosy, whereas, day in day out, we record new cases of which children are largely involved.
“Some of these patients don’t come when it is early, they come when it is either grade one or grade two disabilities. They must have gone round the whole herbalist before somebody will refer them to our referrer centre in Ochadamu for them to get a solution. The Federal Government has to come in to achieve that zero elimination campaign and should not be by lip service”.
Fashona who noted that the organization is determined towards ensuring that Nigeria is free from the disease added that the state referrer center located in Ochadamu, Eastern flank of Kogi State had 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 3 million people across the world are living with undiagnosed leprosy and every day the disease causes more damage to their health, livelihood and future.
She explained further that Leprosy Mission is embarking on daily research to achieve zero leprosy in the world.
Receiving the palliatives on behalf of the Kogi State Ministry of Women Affair and Social Development, the State Commissioner for Women Affair Hajia Fatima Buba who was represented by a Director of the ministry Mrs Adegbola Elizabeth Fumilayo thanked the donors for the kind gesture just as she tasked the beneficiaries to always remember them in prayers.
Adegbola, however, warned the beneficiaries not to sell the items at is meant for their household consumption.
