LAHAD DATU:Early detection and proper treatment has enabled about 85 per cent of those infected with leprosy to be cured within six months to a year.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that spreads via droplets and mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes.
The main symptom is pale-colored sores that develop into disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that do not go away after several weeks or months.
Sabah Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi said more awareness programme on the infectious disease should be conducted more regularly to prevent permanent disability and spreading it to other people.
"Through active education programmes held by the health ministry together with non-governmental organisations, we hope the community would be able to identify symptoms of the disease, seek treatment and complied with medication.
"Since the implementation of Multiple Drug Therapy since 1995 as recommended by the World Health Organisation, the country has been able to control leprosy incidence to less than 1 in 10,000 population,"she said.
Dr Christina's speech was read by the district health director Dr Valentine@ Japulee Gantul during the state-level World's Leprosy Day programme on Saturday.
Meanwhile Lahad Datu assemblyman Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal also said in his speech to urge the community to stop judging on leprosy patients.
Throughout history with the first known written mention of leprosy is dated 600 BC, afflicted people had often been ostracised by their communities and families.
"These people should also be given the opportunity to receive education and employment like other members of the community so they could live in peace too,"he added.
Also present were Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association Sabah president Ku Fu Men, Sabah Health Panel chairman Stanley Chin and district hospital director Dr. Tan Hee Ting.
Ends.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that spreads via droplets and mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes.
The main symptom is pale-colored sores that develop into disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that do not go away after several weeks or months.
Sabah Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi said more awareness programme on the infectious disease should be conducted more regularly to prevent permanent disability and spreading it to other people.
"Through active education programmes held by the health ministry together with non-governmental organisations, we hope the community would be able to identify symptoms of the disease, seek treatment and complied with medication.
"Since the implementation of Multiple Drug Therapy since 1995 as recommended by the World Health Organisation, the country has been able to control leprosy incidence to less than 1 in 10,000 population,"she said.
Dr Christina's speech was read by the district health director Dr Valentine@ Japulee Gantul during the state-level World's Leprosy Day programme on Saturday.
Meanwhile Lahad Datu assemblyman Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal also said in his speech to urge the community to stop judging on leprosy patients.
Throughout history with the first known written mention of leprosy is dated 600 BC, afflicted people had often been ostracised by their communities and families.
"These people should also be given the opportunity to receive education and employment like other members of the community so they could live in peace too,"he added.
Also present were Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association Sabah president Ku Fu Men, Sabah Health Panel chairman Stanley Chin and district hospital director Dr. Tan Hee Ting.
Ends.
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