The Chairman, Association of Lepers in Gombe State, Mallam Sani Abubakar, has called on the public to visit any health centre if they noticed a patch on their skin.
Abubakar made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently in Gombe.
He said that leprosy still existed in some communities as new infections were being recorded in the country.
Abubakar said that he was infected with the disease over 30 years ago, adding that he was discovered to had been infected when it was already late.
“As you can see, in spite the fact that I am now cured, l am still deformed and I will live with the stigma for the rest of my life,’’ he said.
He explained that if the case was reported to the hospital early, the patient would be cured without any deformity.
“I am calling on the public to avail themselves of the opportunity of going to the hospital early since the treatment is free.
“Unlike the time that I was infected, I had to go as far as Bayara in Bauchi State for treatment.’’
He commended the state government and other donor agencies for their efforts in the fight against leprosy.
NAN recalls that two new infections were detected in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state in 2013. (NAN)
