Leprosy, the forgotten nightmare

Despite the success of treatments and diagnostic procedures carried out by the Ministry of Health in fighting the lepers’ disease in the country, cases to cause a thorn by the world’s oldest disease still exist. Over 50 new cases are registered in the country annually, despite the fact that leprosy is no longer considered a health threat in the country. Dr Micheal Gasana, an expert who has been at the forefront of the fight against leprosy and also head of department of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, argues that the current leprosy occurrences in Rwanda are sourced from neighbouring countries. “People coming from Burundi, Tanzania and DR Congo are key vehicles for the disease, which, unfortunately, is a threat to some of the Rwandan population,” he says. Dr Gasana’s point of argument is not any different from that of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which lists Tanzania and DR Congo for having the highest rates of leprosy in the region. A 2010 WHO survey revealed that 36 new cases of leprosy were registered in Rwanda and 2,349 in Tanzania. With 5,049 cases, DR Congo registered the highest despite the findings revealing a decrease of (between) 36 per cent to 51 per cent compared with the rate in 2005. To bring down the numbers several trainings have for long been conducted to enlighten the public and key players in the health sector about the disease. Through nationwide awareness programmes, training of health workers and conducting several workshops by the Ministry of Health, a decrease in the number of victims of the infectious disease has been realised. Basing on several research findings by RBC, Dr Gasana singles out a long incubation period for the disease in the body as a main challenge. “Symptoms of the diseases may start appearing after 10 years, for example, while we have battled it for long, there are still people living with it unknowingly.” “Being a contagious disease that is also airborne, it still remains a test to fully wipe out leprosy from the population,” Dr Gasana adds. But a number of studies have revealed that there is a close association between leprosy and poverty. Poverty and leprosy Dr Manzi Umulisa, a specialist in infectious diseases and lecturer at the Central University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (Chuk), says for long the bacterial infection has been linked to poverty. “Poor people are usually associated with the disease because they fail to meet even the least standard of hygiene,” Dr Umulisa says. According to Dr Umulisa, where filth exists, a number of microorganism find refuge and mycobacterium leprae, the leprosy causing bacteria is not any different. However, he expresses his worries, saying, “People with leprosy go face to face with futile stigmatisation and discrimination, maybe it is one of the reasons why they fail to come out open in the public.” “But there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to sickness since early detection is essential for complete healing of disease.” Way forward Mary Mugwaneza, a clinician in Kimironko, says for whatever condition it may be, early detection of any disease is essential. The health worker says leprosy is managed through a multi drug regimen and people need not be fearful about the course of healing. “Once the course of drugs is started, the possibility of patients infecting one another reduces, hence the disease can be contained and prevented from spreading further,” Mugwaneza says. She also urges the public to look out for symptoms that include muscle weakness, in the hands and feet, such as skin patches, stiffness of body parts dryness of lips, loss of fingers and toes, enlarged nerves, as well as problems with the nose and eyes. Although the current figures for the disease are likely to provide comfort, experts warn that where neglected leprosy fails to kill, it leads to loss of body structures. Since leprosy thrives mainly along borders, just like other poor hygiene related infections, primary healthcare still remains a must for every individual to minimise infections, hence those with rare symptoms should seek immediate medical assistance.