The National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases (NIPHID), Saye, Zaria, marked World Leprosy Day with a sensitization campaign at Giwa and Yakawada markets in Kaduna State, aimed at raising public awareness about leprosy prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Speaking during the campaign, NIPHID Director-General, Dr. Abdullahi Dalhatu Aminu, said the exercise was designed to educate the public that leprosy is a curable infectious disease, particularly when detected early.
“Common symptoms include changes in skin colour—whitish, reddish, or dark—often accompanied by loss of sensation in the affected area,” he explained. Dr. Aminu urged people to seek medical attention at the nearest health facility whenever they notice unusual skin changes, emphasizing that early diagnosis prevents disability and stops transmission.
He added that World Leprosy Day also serves to restore the dignity of affected persons and tackle stigma and discrimination. “Individuals who have completed treatment are cured and cannot spread the disease,” he said.
Giwa Local Government Area was selected for the campaign because statistics show it has the highest number of reported leprosy cases in the state, Dr. Aminu noted.
Dr. Umma Aliyu, Head of Hospital Services at NIPHID, advised patients undergoing treatment to strictly follow their prescribed medications to avoid complications and relapse.
In his remarks, Sarkin Kasuwar Giwa, Malam Ibrahim Isa, urged the public to shun stigma and discrimination, encouraging understanding, support, and compassion for people living with leprosy.
Some patients, including Yarima Dalladi Paul, Malam John, and Ayuba Kom, shared personal experiences and appealed to the public to stop discriminating against those affected.
The campaign included health talks and community engagement activities to promote awareness and encourage early reporting of suspected cases.
This year’s World Leprosy Day theme is: “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma.”
COV/Ibrahim Suleiman
