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Leprosy prevalence declines

A World Health Organization programme to eliminate leprosy in Sierra Leone has been “successfully implemented”, OCHA said in its situation report ending 25 January. It said that an assessment of the project, conducted by a consultant from Nigeria, revealed a progressive reduction of registered leprosy prevalence. In 1995, 424 cases were registered, with a prevalence of 0.94 per 10,000 it said. At the end of 2000, 392 cases were registered with a prevalence of 0.78 per 10,000. The programme has been able to provide home care services to outpatients and integrate the Leprosy Control Service into the general health service. In addition, adequate treatment was given to complicated leprosy cases, providing victims with prosthesis and orthopaedic shoes. There is also a well equipped leprosy hospital and rehabilitation centre.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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