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The scourge of leprosy, which was declared as eradicated in Malawi, in 1996 is coming back and already affecting people in some districts in the country.
Executive Director of the Harry Foundation for Development (Hafod), Gibson Mbewe, said Thursday that traces of the disease have been discovered in Lilongwe, Mchinji, Mangochi, Machinga, Salima and Zomba, among other districts.
Mbewe said there are about four to eight patients being treated of leprosy in Mangochi district.
“The major problem the country is facing is that there is no campaign at the moment to sensitise the people on how they can know they are suffering from the infection. People need to be told that leprosy is still in existence and that it is treatable,” Mbewe said.
Hafod president Harry Khamalatha, a leper himself, said negligence in sensitising the masses and treating those found with the skin infection would affect a lot of people especially the young generation.
“We are also concerned because leprosy sufferers are shunned by the public, their families and their places of work. These are all issues that need to be addressed,” Khamalatha said.
A patient suffering from leprosy at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, 40-year-old Richard Chinsinga, said he has been suffering from the infection for the past three years and the condition is getting worse.
“I never knew it was leprosy until after two years. My wife ran away from me with my six children,” Chinsinga said.
Chinsinga may have some of his limbs amputated to save him from further suffering, Mbewe said.
Ministry of Health controller of preventive health services Habib Somanje, said the eradication of leprosy did not imply that the infection has been completely wiped out in Malawi.
“It is true leprosy has not been completely wiped out but sensitisation is district-based. We go to areas where there are some cases and treat them accordingly,” Somanje said.
He said Malawi is still regarded globally as having eradicated leprosy.
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