By Aminata Phidelia Allie
The Country Representative of the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Dr. Yvonne Harding says leprosy is a curable disease. She made this statement at the Health and Sanitation Ministry in Freetown in commemoration of the 60th World Leprosy Day on the theme, “Stop the Stigma and Discrimination against Leprosy: A World without Stigma”.
Dr. Harding described leprosy as “a disease that causes gross disfigurement on those affected, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated early”. She said that in Sierra Leone and the world over, victims of the disease were discriminated against, stigmatized and ostracised.
She went on that people who affected by leprosy were quite often evicted from their homes and families, adding that “these people need to be loved and cared for by family and society”. She noted that Parliament had ratified the Persons’ With Disability Act in March 2011, which would protect the fundamental human rights of victims.
Dr. Harding said the GLRA and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation were supporting leprosy victims by providing rent allowances for those who can’t afford shelter and education for their children. “We don’t just give them primary and secondary education but as far as they are ready to go”, she added.
The Programme Manager, National Leprosy and TB Control Programme, Dr. Alie Wurie said that their target was not just to eliminate the disease but also disability on victims and the stigma.
“We must get rid of the stigma and discrimination as they lead to disability because those affected will always find it difficult to seek early diagnosis and treatment”, Dr. Wurie noted. He said that many people who suffer from the disease ended up losing their fingers or toes, thus making them disabled in many ways.
He pointed out that though Sierra Leone was doing well in the elimination exercise in districts like Kambia, Koinadugu and Kailahun, many still continued to suffer “high level of disability”.
