Around 400 new Leprosy cases registered Countrywide annually: Experts.

KARACHI -- Every year, approximately 400 new Leprosy cases were registered all over Pakistan and 342 new Leprosy cases were registered all over Pakistan in 2019 while Sindh has the largest number of Leprosy patients.

These views were expressed by Leprosy experts including Chief Executive

Officer Mervyn Lobo, Director Training Dr. Ali Murtaza and Director Human Resources and Administration Savio Pereira at a press briefing organized by Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) to mark World Leprosy Day 2020 at its head office, here on Saturday.

They said that as many as 143 new cases were reported from Sindh in 2018, which accounts for 42 per cent.

On national level, Karachi accounts for 59 per cent of the leprosy cases whereas KPK accounts 11 per cent, Punjab accounts nine per cent, they added.

CEO Mervyn Lobo revealed that so far, 58,490 cases were registered across Pakistan out of which 99 per cent received treatment.

He said "Leprosy situation in Pakistan is encouraging and the new Leprosy cases are less than one per cent in every 100,000 patients under treatment are less than one in every 10,000 disability ratio is less than one in 100,000 and among children cases disability rate is 0 per cent".

It may be noted here that MALC has been working to eliminate Leprosy from Pakistan for the last sixty years.

Dr. Ali Murtaza in his remarks said that according to WHO's strategy for 2016 - 2020, three targets have been set which are Zero Transmission, Zero Disability in children cases, Zero Discrimination.

He said that we all need to work hard to achieve these targets so that Leprosy could be eradicated.

"The key to zero disability is early detection and treatment; Leprosy can be treated by Multi Drug Therapy from 6 to 12 months depending on its type", he added.

He further said that after Leprosy control, in order to continue

surveillance and to ensure leprosy services in the field, additional disciplines were added which include Tuberculosis and Blindness control,

Maternal Child Health Care (MCHC) along with Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) programs to tackle the situation.

He said that we feel privileged to acknowledge the support of the Provincial Governments along with our corporate partners and...