Siraha, July 21

As many as 79 new leprosy cases have been detected in Siraha during the last fiscal.

As per District Health Office, Siraha, leprosy was found in 43 males and 36 females in the last fiscal. “After detecting the disease, health workers have been treating new leprosy patients under their strict surveillance,” said DHO.

Dhangadhimai Municipality public health officer Bilatnarayan Ray said leprosy was detected in six persons during leprosy alleviation campaign in the municipality. “Timely treatment with proper medication can save patients from being physically affected,” Ray said. There has been a significant rise in the number of leprosy patients as people tend to hide it for the sake of shame, as per Ray.

A door-to-door campaign has been launched with the aim of making Nepal leprosy-free by 2020. Women health volunteers and other volunteers have been deployed in making the campaign successful. Every year around 3,000 new leprosy cases are detected.