Health department to promote leprosy awareness

WITH Baguio City’s preparation for the Leprosy Prevention and Control Week, the Department of Health (DOH) advised the public to observe proper hygiene, good healthy habits, early prevention, and treatment.

Family health cluster head Virginia Narciso said leprosy is a mildly communicable disease.

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Narciso said some do not want to undergo treatment because of the stigma brought by the disease.

Narciso said the awareness will happen on the third week of February with the theme “Empowering Persons, Families, and Communities for a Leprosy Free Philippines.”

Based on DOH records, there were 20 cases of leprosy in the region for 2005, 27 for 2006, 16 for 2007, 32 for 2008 and 20 as of the last quarter of 2009.

Narciso said based on the data, patients with leprosy are usually 15 years old and above.

She said the multi-drug therapy has resulted to positive results for treating leprosy.

She added residents should consult a doctor immediately if there are already symptoms of leprosy. (Visha Calventas)