BANIYANI, JANUARY 31
Leprosy has been detected among those returning from Gulf countries in Jhapa. At least five returnee migrant workers were diagnosed with leprosy in the district from mid-November to mid-December in 2021.
Chief of Nepal Leprosy District Programme Parashuram Pokharel informed that two were detected with leprosy in Buddhashanti Rural Municipality and one each in Jhapa Rural Municipality, Damak Municipality and Birtamod Municipality.
The treatment of those living with leprosy has started after diagnosis, he said.
This shows that returnee migrant workers are also vulnerable to the contagious disease, leprosy. "Normally many live together in a room during their stay in foreign countries during employment," he said, this puts them at the risk of leprosy.
According to Public Health Inspector at District Health Office Bishwonath Shrestha, as many as 36 new leprosy-infected were found in the district as of mid-December 2021. Among them are one boy and a girl child.
The age group 0-14 is taken especially for the elimination of leprosy. But, the detection of leprosy among two children shows the increased level of risk. The office shared that 10 children were diagnosed with leprosy in the district in the last fiscal.
As per the nature of the disease, 14 people with leprosy are administered medicines for six months and 22 with medicines for a year.
Some with severe cases were referred to Leprosy Service Centre Lalgadh and Anandabhawan.
Last year only, 21 people diagnosed with leprosy were referred to the centres for extra care and treatment, he informed.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 1, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
