The Leprosy Mission of Nigeria (TLMN) has lamented that over 3, 500 Nigerians are infected with leprosy annually, saying it is rampant in places where there is extreme poverty.
Mr. Pius Ogbu, the Operations Manager in charge of the Mission, stated this during the Mission’s Policy Makers Workshop held in Minna.
According to him, about 25 percent of those infected are having some degree of disability, assuring that they are poised to improving the quality of lives of persons affected by the disease in four Local Government Areas of Niger State.
According to him “we have discovered that the number of persons affected annually by the disease in Nigeria is over 3,500 with about 25 percent of patients having some degree of disability, saying the sum of N100 million has been set aside to execute its programmes in Niger state.
He spoke further, “The stigma and discrimination against these people in the country are very high due to the myth and suspicion associated with the disease.
“Every new case of persons affected by the disease and discovered was diagnosed for possible treatment with the Mission’s support and care especially as the disease was mostly common in places of poverty, dirty water, poor nutrition and low standard of living.
“The Mission will spend N11 million out of the said amount this year on some of its activities which had already commenced in the State, while N20 million will be expended in 2014, with the remaining N19 million set aside for use in 2015,” he said.
