DILI, 27 january 2022 (TATOLI) – Since 2004, the Non-Governmental Organization, Leprosy Mission Timor-Leste (LMTL) registered around 3.000 leprosy cases in Timor-Leste, said the Director of LMTL, Afliana Lisnahan dos Reis.
“The number of leprosy cases increased every year due to lack of early diagnosis and treatment. We have recorded approximately 3.000 cases of leprosy from 2004 to 2021,” Reis told TATOLI at her office, in Dili, on wednesday.
Reis said persons with a weak immune system have the possibility to be infected with the disease, saying, therefore, consuming nutrient-rich food is crucial to strengthen the immune system against NTDs, particularly leprosy.
“This disease can be spread through coughing, sneezing, and from skin-to-skin contact or from infested items such as furniture and bed linens,” she said.
“Our mission is to eradicate leprosy in Timor-Leste. Therefore, you need to detect and take care of person affected with leprosy at the early stage, and to do so early detection is important. We will continue to carry out the leprosy awareness campaign in all municipalities and the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno to eradicate leprosy by 2035,” he said.
She stressed that leprosy is a contagious and chronic disease as the incubation period takes six months to two years to detect the symptoms of the disease, such as discolored patches of skin, usually flat, that may be numb and look faded (lighter than the skin around), growths (nodules) on the skin, thick, stiff or dry skin, painless ulcers on the soles of feet, painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes, and loss of eyebrows or eyelashes.
She said LMTL has been working in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health (MoH), Organization of Persons with Disabilities, (ADTL) to carry out early diagnosis and contact tracing.
“We need to work in partnership with ADTL to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities because lepers are part of this organization,” she stressed.
Reis urged persons with leprosy to seek treatment at the news health care centers, saying leprosy is treatable and free for all Timorese people.
Earlier this week, the Chief of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Program of the Ministry of Health, Jose Liu Fernandes revealed that since 2000, MoH registered more than 5.000 cases of leprosy in Timor-Leste.
Last year, MoH recorded 150 cases of leprosy in eight municipalities and the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA.
Of the 150 cases, 30 were detected in Baucau, 28 in Dili, 19 in Covalima, 18 in Ainaro, 17 in Manatuto, 15 in RAEOA, seven in Liquiçá, two in Lautém and one in Viqueque municipality.
Fernandes reiterated MoH’s committeemen to eliminate leprosy in the country by 2030.
He said the leprosy awareness campaign would be broadcasted on TV and Radio on January 28, to raise the awareness of the communities on combating leprosy in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
