KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has known as on all Malaysians to work collectively to remove discrimination against leprosy sufferers and their relations.
Its Minister Khairy Jamaluddin defined that leprosy just isn’t a hereditary illness or a curse, however it’s an infectious illness that may be cured utilizing the multidrug remedy remedy.
“Every affected person shouldn’t be ridiculed or face rejection because of the sickness or bodily incapacity. If they isolate themselves, we should always give them phrases of encouragement and assist.
“Give them respect and the chance to dwell a affluent life, similar to everybody else,” he mentioned in a press release issued along side World Leprosy Day 2022 which is well known on the final Sunday of January yearly.
Khairy mentioned the ministry would determine the diploma of seriousness and elements contributing to discrimination by a scientific examine.
He additionally suggested healthcare employees to channel correct details about leprosy to the general public, in addition to offering each affected person with the very best remedy and simply accessed companies.
Khairy defined that the traditional illness, which has been identified since 1500 BC, doesn’t unfold simply however a late analysis and delays in receiving remedy can result in everlasting incapacity which then impacts the standard of lifetime of the sufferers and their relations.
“The everlasting incapacity price reported amongst leprosy sufferers is round 0.02 to 0.05 instances per 100,000 inhabitants, which is equal to 4 per cent to eight per cent of the overall new leprosy instances reported every year,” he mentioned. – Bernama
