Kanon State Commissioner for Heath, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, has said that the state has recorded 118 leprosy cases in the year 2020 with no reported death from the infection in the same year.
Speaking at a press briefing marking the commemoration of the year 2021 World Leprosy and Neglected Tropical Diseases held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry, Tsanyawa stated that Kano being the most populous State in Nigeria has 5 endemic NTDs such as River Blindness, in 18 Local Government Areas and Tracoma in 10 Local Government Areas.
According to him, since the inception of governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration, the State Government was doing well in significantly reducing the burden, socio-economic impact and the transmission of leprosy and neglected tropical diseases in addition to health promotion and rehabilitation of persons affected by leprosy.
He however stated that the State Government had also efected the enrolment of 526 leprosy patients among the 4,734 poorest individuals with disabilities to access free healthcare services at primary and secondary levels under the basic healthcare provision fund through Kano State Contributory Heathcare Management Agency.
He said” in the same vein, the 2020 NTDs report had more than 1.7billion people that had fallen sick worldwide due to one or more of the NTDs especially among undeserved and people living in poor rural or semi- urban communities. the day aims to raise global awareness for the urgent need to end neglected tropical diseases”.
“We believed demand creation is key to improving and enlightening the public about the disease. I therefore call on well-meaning citizens, young and old, male and female, across Kano State to go to the nearest health facility for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of leprosy and NTDs free of charge” he added.
