The number of new leprosy patients reaches between 2,500 and 3,000 every year even though Myanmar has achieved its goal of eliminating leprosy, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.
An official of the Ministry of Health and Sports said: “About 10 to 15 per cent of new leprosy patients suffer physical disabilities. Five per cent of new leprosy patients are children. Patients have no access to the Multidrug Therapy (MDT) as they themselves even don’t know the fact that the treatment with MDT can cure it. Some patients don’t receive treatment for fear that they feel shy and may face discrimination.”
Leprosy has been removed from the list of top priority diseases after the prevalence rate of leprosy is less than one case per 10,000 populations, according to the leprosy eradication conference on December 13, 2018.
Since 2000, Novartis , a global heathcare Company, donates Multi Drug Therapy (MDT). Leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability. It is found that patients do not get early treatment as patients and their families are shy and afraid, according to the ministry.
The new cases of leprosy with grade-2 disabilities are still found among children. It is required to step up efforts for leprosy eradication. Myanmar has drafted National Leprosy Control Strategy (2019-2023).
