Kano State government has said it has detected 236 new cases of leprosy in 2021.
The Union Nigeria understands that the cases were detected and treated through contact-tracing, while 500 were treated for leprosy reactions.
The Commissioner for Health, Ibrahim Tsanyawa, made this known at a conference to commemorate this year’s World Leprosy Day and World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.
Represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Tsanyawa said Kano State government has enrolled 526 leprosy patients for basic health care under the state’s Contributory Healthcare Management Agency in 2021.
The Commissioner said, patients enrolled in the scheme were among the 4,734 people with disabilities, expected to access free health care services at primary and secondary levels.
The commissioner highlighted the major clinical signs of leprosy to include hypopigmentation anaesthetic skin, as well as the history of contact with untreated cases.
According to him, Kano State has five endemic diseases namely river blindness in 18 local government areas, trachoma in 10 local government areas, bilharziasis, lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminths.
Tsanyawa explained that government had done significantly well in reducing the transmission of tropical diseases, in line with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme guidelines.
He expressed the commitment of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration toward providing quality health care for the people. (Kano Focus)
