 |
LEPROSY CONTROL IN AFRICAN NATIONS
THIS SITE IS CONSTANTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS REPORTS COME IN
LEPROSY - PRESENT SITUATION IN AFRICA
Extracts of Report by Dr. Piet Both, Director for Africa,
THE LEPROSY MISSION (TLM) - http://www.leprosymission.org
as published by TLM(Aust.) in its magazine “IN ACTION” - August 1997
Email:- skillicorn@ozemail.com.au
NATIONS COVERED BY TLM’s PROGRAMMES:-
Guinea, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Zaire-now Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Niger, Swaziland, South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and Zambia.
PROGRESS:-
Almost all leprosy patients who are registered for treatment, are receiving Multi-Drug-Therapy (MDT). In 1996, we expanded and increased the areas covered by leprosy control programmes. We are continuing to find new leprosy patients. There are programmes where the the level of disability in new patients is reducing, which indicates that we are finding patients at an earlier stage of the disease, often because of a greater awareness amongst health workers and within communities. In some programmes, we have been able to place more emphasis on rehabilitation projects and we are encouraging other programmes to do the same.
RE-ESTABLISHING TLM’S INVOLVEMENT IN D.R. OF CONGO:-
Following the onset of the war and the violent attack on Lemera Hospital last year, several programs in Congo (Zaire) collapsed completely, with losses of capital items, drugs, files and registers . Plans for returning are well underway. An end of hostilities and increasing stability, following the overthrow of the Kabila regime, along with encouraging news from the national medical workers within Congo, have led us to act quickly. New vehicles have been ordered, along with medical supplies, and a strategy for project re-establishment is in place.
LATE NEWS FROM D.R. of CONGO:-
The situation has settled down enough for TLM to return and we rejoice that Margaret Mead of Hobart, Australia, is back in the D.R. of Congo. She would ask us to prayerfully remember her team, for protection, especially Rumenera and Mubugora. The country still needs a greater measure of stability to overcome the many problems resulting from the recent civil war. Please also remember in your prayers, Margaret’s colleague from Holland - Ida Baarsan.
CHAD :-
The governemt evaluation team in Chad gave a very encouraging review and has asked TLM to consider expanding the project area in this country.
MOZAMBIQUE:-
The program in Cabo Delgado is performong very well . 100% Multi-Drug Therapy has been reached in the country. Another doctor is required for a three year term.
REHABILITATION PROJECTS:-
Progress in Africa is evidenced by a number of Multi-Drug-Therapy programs beginning to extend into rehabilitation services to give more thorough patient care. There are new projects planned for Kumi, Uganda; in Kwara State and Niger State, both in Nigeria; and one for Bas-Zaire, Congo, at the referral centre in Kivuvu (following re-establishment and major re-investment).
NIGERIA:-
A Social / Rehabiliation Officer is required in 1998 for a three year term to initiate, develop and co-ordinate self-sustaining community based rehabilitation projects in Akwa Ibom State. Leprosy and Language training will be provided.
AFRICA - REGIONAL SUMMARY - 1996:-
An Overview:-
# Population covered by TLM - 129 million
# Countries covered - 17
# Projects - 31
# TLM workers - 80
# Estimated leprosy cases - 150,000
# Patients treated per annum - 5,296
# Patients receiving treatment - 13,636
# People receiving care after cure - 10,316
# Patients under surveillance - 6,257
# New leprosy cases detected - 6,231
# In-patients (leprosy) - 2,298
# Total people under TLM’s care - 30,209
FOR FURTHER INFO. PLEASE VISIT :- http://www.webspawner.com/users/SkilliIBS/
or Email :- skillicorn@ozemail.com.au
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE
THIS SITE WAS LAST UPDATED ON 8th. NOVEMBER 1997
LEPROSY FORUM
THE CHALLENGE OF LEPROSY
THE LEPROSY MISSION INTERNATIONAL
LIBRARY OF RESOURCE INFO. ON LEPROSY
INDEX TO ALL OUR PERSONAL WEB-SITES
Send E-Mail to: keith_skilli@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2007 KEITH SKILLICORN. All Rights Reserved