On Jan 20, the Health Ministry announced that Nepal had cut leprosy prevalence to less than one in 10,000, which is the World Health Organization’s standard for declaring that the disease has been eliminated. While making the announcement, the government said leprosy prevalence dropped to 0.89 per 10,000 in November last year and that the disease will no longer be categorized as a public health problem.
While the government must be congratulated for this landmark achievement, it is unacceptable that the few who are living with bacillus Mycobacterium leprae are facing banishment from even their loved ones owing to prevailing superstitions. Prem Bahadur Rana of Dandagaun, Jajarkot, was banished to a cave where he lived for nearly a year after contracting the bacteria. Rana, who is now receiving treatment in Surkhet, had almost resigned to the fate of a caveman, ignorant that he was – like his family members – that he had only been infected by bacteria for which there is cure.
Like Rana, there are over two dozen patients receiving treatment at International Nepal Fellowship in Surkhet, who have similar stories to share. It is therefore dangerous for the government’s leprosy eradication campaign to grow complacent, as there are still many Nepalis who need serious attention and social support. It is imperative that the government gives continuity to its awareness campaign to root out superstitions associated with leprosy.
The superstitions are dangerous also because delay in treatment can cost the patients their limbs or other organs making it even more difficult for them to be rehabilitated back into society once they are free from the bacteria. A final push in the awareness campaign is warranted to make sure that those affected by the disease promptly seek medical help and do not suffer physical handicap from an easily curable illness. We hope that a sustained awareness campaign is undertaken and that the disease is completely eradicated.
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