‘FG to issue certificates to people cured of leprosy’

The ministry of health is considering certificates for people cured of leprosy to be able to return to society without facing discrimination or marginalisation. Speaking during a visit to Alheri, an independent community of people affected by leprosy sited in Yangoji, minister of state for health, Osagie Ehanire, said he would advocate for certificates to […]

The ministry of health is considering certificates for people cured of leprosy to be able to return to society without facing discrimination or marginalisation.
Speaking during a visit to Alheri, an independent community of people affected by leprosy sited in Yangoji, minister of state for health, Osagie Ehanire, said he would advocate for certificates to be issued to those cured “to ease social re-integration and opportunities for education and opportunities for work in communities.”
The minister added that: “People cured of leprosy are not infectious. They won’t transmit the disease, and there should be no need to stigmatise and exclude them from society.”
It is the first visit by any top-ranking official to the community in efforts to raise awareness about the neglect of leprosy and social exclusion of people affected by the disease.
On arrival, Ehanire shook hands with leaders of Alheri community, all previously cured of leprosy.
“The problem of this community is disability after they have been cured. Many have lost digits and are not able to do regular activities and need special measures to teach them new skills and re-integrate them into society,” he explained.
It comes amidst concerns that leprosy-related deformities which result from late detection of the disease and persist even after successful treatment and cure make people reluctant to socialise with anyone even cured of the disease.
The certificate is expected to have a holder’s photograph embossed and is expected to be issued “as soon as possible,” said Dr. Gabriel Akang, coordinator of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, which coordinates leprosy-elimination programmes.
Dr. Moses Onoh, coordinator of The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, which caters for residents of Alheri, said prejudice against the community’s residents was keeping them from returning to full, independent lives.