3 July 2009
VISITING World Health Organisation (WHO) goodwill ambassador on leprosy, Yohei Sasakawa has called for the total end to stigmatisation and discrimination against leprosy patients.
Mr Sasakawa said in Chibombo District yesterday that the society should accept the status of patients because leprosy was a normal disease that could attack anybody.
Speaking when he toured Liteta General Hospital, Mr Sasakawa said stigma and discrimination caused severe emotional and psychological pain to patients.
"Leprosy is just like any other disease and the patients or families affected by the disease have a right to a normal life.
"There is no need to discriminate somebody because of being a leprosy patient but need to be comforted and helped," Mr Sasakawa said.
Liteta General Hospital was opened in 1959 as a national tuberculosis (TB) hospital.
It became the national leprosy hospital in 1963 where all complicated cases were being managed.
He said there was need to join hands with all stakeholders to strengthen the fight against fear, discrimination and social stigma associated with leprosy.
The ambassador said there was no need to fear the disease saying it was now curable and the drugs were accessible, at no fee, in all treatment centres.
He said he was happy that since 2000,the Government had continued to make progress to eradicate leprosy and that there was need for all stakeholders to support it.
Mr Sasakawa said his visit to Zambia was aimed at exploring effective ways on how the Government could be helped further to make the country leprosy free.
During the tour at the hospital, Mr Sasakawa visited more than 13 patients at their invalid compound where they lived with their families.
Hospital clinical officer-in-charge of TB and leprosy programmes, Pumulo Nakando appealed to the Government to electrify the compound where the former leprosy patients lived.
Dr Nakando said the inadequate physiotherapy equipment for the patients rehabilitation especially leprosy was another source of concern that needed to be addressed.
A former leprosy patient, Robert Nangondo, 63, said he was diagnosed with the disease in 1973 but had recovered and appealed for empowerment from the Government to enable him lead a decent and productive life..
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