11 new cases of leprosy infection among children in Niger state on HWN HIGHLIGHT

The Leprosy Mission in Nigeria says 11 new cases of leprosy infection among children aged between 9 and 14 years have been discovered in Niger State, last year.

The fund development manager of the mission, Terver Anyor, made this known yesterday while delivering a lecture during a training organized for journalists in Minna.

He added that the Leprosy Mission was on intervention programmes in four local government areas of the state namely, Chanchaga, Sarkin pawa, Paikoro and Shiroro, saying in 2014, the state recorded 161 cases.

The mission has also embarked on the programme of fighting stigmatization against those afflicted by the disease, adding that a mini leprosy elimination campaign was carried out by his organization in four LGAs of the state.

He said: “The objective of the intervention is to promote social inclusion and right protection for leprosy affected persons.”

The disease which is now curable, Anyor said, has a long incubation period of a minimum of five years, but when detected early it could be cured completely.