Nkhata Bay District records 6 leprosy cases

Nkhata Bay District Hospital spokesperson Christopher Singini says the district has registered six leprosy cases.

But in an interview on Monday, he said they are monitoring the situation.

“The six are currently on treatment. At the moment, we are putting in place measures to establish how much the disease has spread and how it can be contained,” said Singini.

He said they will intensify the sensitisation campaign to encourage people to go for screening to detect the disease so that it can be treated.

 Nkhata Bay resident Chasakala Banda welcomed the hospital’s plan to conduct an awareness campaign in the district.

“We need people to understand that the disease can be cured if detected early,” he said.

Leprosy is caused by mycobacterium leprae and is spread through droplets from the nose and mouth during contact with an infected person.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) strategic plan for leprosy elimination 2000-2005 committed to eliminating the disease through services accessible at every health facility.

WHO declared Malawi leprosy-free in 1994. Leprosy can cause long-term physical disability.

By May this year, the country had registered over 500 leprosy cases.