HPA’s “Zero Leprosy” mission to eliminate Leprosy in the Maldives began in June of 2019. Part of the work was to initiate screening programs in some islands.
The latest island to be part of the screening program is Gdh. Faresmathodaa. According to HPA, the goal is to identify the disease in an infected individual and start treatment at an early stage. The health center in the island encourages and motivates the majority of the population to be part of the screening program.
Leprosy is an infectious disease that affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Symptoms usually occur within a year after being infected, however, it can also take as long as 20 years. Leprosy can be curable with multidrug therapy (MDT), and is transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth. According to WHO there were 208, 619 new leprosy cases registered globally in 2018.
Leprosy is still found in the Maldives in small numbers. In 1997, the numbers were lowered according to the standards set by WHO. In the past 2-3 years, the average number of new cases were between 3-7. And so far, this year, 3 cases of Leprosy have been diagnosed.
Leprosy is a disease that can be cured if treatment is given at an early stage. The patients that were diagnosed with the disease were supervised under HPA’s guidance, until the treatment process was completed and the patient recovers. Moreover, the family and relatives of the patient were educated on how to prevent this disease, and the patient will be closely monitored by the health center of the island they reside in.
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