Luena – The country continues to develop actions aligned to the fight against leprosy, with the increase of laboratory diagnosis capacity, funding and education activities, the Secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda said today in Luanda.
He reiterated the commitment during a meeting with the United Nations special rapporteur for the elimination of discrimination against leprosy and its families, Alice Cruz, who is on a working visit to the African country.
At the meeting, which aimed at discussing the outlines on the elimination of discrimination around people affected by leprosy and their families, Mr. Mufinda said that, besides the measures described, the Government has disseminated information to the communities, as well as involving other forces of society for the success of the fight against this epidemic.
Despite that, he said that the country, in 2021, registered 1,785 cases, 220 of which in Luanda, and that 30 percent are multi-bacillary.
Of the total number of cases, 93 children were affected, having ensured the monitoring of patients, as part of the Leprosy Control Programme, with the provision of free medication to all diagnosed cases.
Source: Angola Press News Agency