A surgeon, Dr Yakubu Gida, has identified leprosy as one of the major cause of infertility in men as it affects testicle.
Gida, the Director, Leprosy and Tuberculosis of the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), stated this at a press conference to mark the 2020 World Leprosy day on Friday in Bauchi.
He explained that the disease incubation period was between two to five years, adding that it infects cooler parts of the body such as eyes, nose, ears and feet.
Gida called on the people with early symptoms of the disease to visit hospital to ensure effective management and treatment.
Also speaking, the BACATMA’s Chairman, Dr Sani Dambam, disclosed that the agency had recorded 81 new cases of the disease in 2019, adding that six per cent of the cases were detected in children.
“The statistics showed that six per cent of the cases are found in children while the target is five per cent.
“This indicated that leprosy transmission is still going on in communities.
“The cases diagnosed with visibility disability was 10 per cent indicating that adults with leprosy present it late for treatment,” he said.
Dambam advocated for a multi sector approach to end stigmatization against persons living with leprosy, noting that stigma was the major obstacle militating against the effective campaign against the disease.
According to him, the agency would extend medical outreach to rural communities as part of activities lined to mark the day. (NAN)
