Pancras Ntibarufata, focal point of the program to fight against leprosy and tuberculosis in the Ministry of Public Health says cases of leprosy are gradually increasing in Burundi.
People suffering from leprosy disease gradually increase in Burundi
“We identified 385 people infected with leprosy in 2018 among them 83% suffered from multi-bacillary leprosy which is very contagious”, he says adding that 9% of them were children. He mentions that during this week dedicated to the fight against leprosy in Burundi.
Mr. Ntibarufata says 11% of children have been infected with the contagious disease over the past five years. “The incubation period can go from 2 to 20 years. If we screen all children of under 20, it means that leprosy is gradually spreading throughout the country”, he says.
Pancras Ntibarufata says the most affected areas are located at the borders with Tanzania and the DRC. They include Rutana, Makamba, Rumonge and Bubanza provinces. “People from those areas are aware of the leprosy symptoms and regularly consult health district officials”, he says.
He, however, says there is still a long way to go to fight against this contagious disease. The Ministry of Public Health is running a sensitization campaign throughout the country to raise awareness of community health officials, religious leaders and other people in order to fight against leprosy.
“There is a need to fight against stigma and discrimination against people affected by leprosy so that they should go to health districts as soon as possible”, he says.
The official celebration of the World Leprosy Day in Burundi is scheduled for February 22, in Rutana province, one of the main affected provinces.
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