by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Feb 13 (PIA) – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Basilan saw the need to increase public awareness on leprosy (ketong) disease and urged the public to get to know more closely the disease.In a radio interview, Nhadzmie J. Edris, the PHO Leprosy Coordinator reveals that there are about 42 cases of leprosy patients in Basilan province (excluding Isabela City), as per recorded in their 2011 report.
Edris was guest at the Philippine Information Agency’s radio program Noticias-Informaccion con Musica over DXNO-FM Radyo Komunidad in Isabela City Friday.
He said that these reported cases are from Sumisip, Lantawan, and Maluso towns in Basilan. He stressed that these patients are undergoing treatment and most of them are adults and belonging to poor households. He did not elaborate whether these patients were isolated or confined in a secluded center.
Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, which causes damage to the skin and the peripheral nervous system. The disease develops slowly (from six months to forty years) and results in skin lesions and deformities, most often affecting the cooler places on the body, like the eyes, nose, earlobes, hands, feet, and testicles.
He underscored that the disease is mildly communicable and that it is curable. This means that people afflicted with the disease should be given all the necessary compassion and attention, and should be immediately be referred to health centers for treatment.
He said the government is giving free medical treatment to leprosy patients. The patient will undergo months of treatment with prescribed medication. It is in this aspect that the role of family members and perhaps neighbors are important.
“There is a need for public awareness on the disease,” Edris said, hoping that the public condemnation and isolation to persons with the disease will be minimized.
He said that patients have the tendency to isolate themselves from the public out of shame. “It is unfortunate also that there are some family members who would condemn their own out of ignorance of the disease,” he lamented.
Physical manifestation of the disease is the prolonged presence of lesions on the skin. One could acquire the disease from prolonged contact with persons with untreated stage of leprosy.
Although the bacteria responsible for the disease were discovered in 1873, scientists still do not fully understand the exact mode of leprosy transmission. Inhaled respiratory droplets are a likely source of infection. However, this is only a factor in half of all cases. Other things that may influence leprosy transmission include a person's degree of susceptibility, the extent of exposure, and environmental conditions.
Authorities said leprosy transmission does not occur between a mother and her unborn baby, and people cannot get leprosy through sexual contact.
Edris further advised the public to visit health centers in their barangays to get to know more about the disease.
Meanwhile, PHO Health Education and Promotions Officer, Leilani Eugenio is thankful to DXNO radio station and PIA for the opportunity and support in their drive on increasing public’s awareness on leprosy through the broadcast media.
She said that efforts to overcome persistent obstacles to the elimination of the disease include improving detection, educating patients and the population about its cause, and fighting social taboos about a disease that has caused its patients throughout history to be considered "unclean" or "cursed by God" as outcasts.
Medical authorities said leprosy is not a hereditary disease. Where taboos are strong, patients may be forced to hide their condition (and avoid seeking treatment) to avoid discrimination. The lack of awareness about leprosy disease can lead people to believe (falsely) that the disease is highly contagious and incurable. (RVC-PIA9 ZBST)
