THE Department of Health (DOH) regional office reported a slight decline in the number of leprosy cases in Cebu in 2012.
Dr. Joanri Riveral, DOH leprosy control program coordinator, said there were 75 leprosy cases in Cebu in 2012, lower than the 93 cases recorded the previous year.
In Central Visayas, the DOH recorded 277 leprosy cases in 2012, lower than the 424 cases recorded in 2011.
“We taught our Barangay Health Workers (BWH) on how to detect early symptoms of leprosy so that they can help our suspected patients to immediately see a doctor,.” he said.
Leprosy cases broke out in the towns of Dumanjug, Moalboal, Ronda, Sibonga, Medellin and Cordova and the cities of Bogo and Lapu-Lapu, Riveral said. “There were no medicines and early warning setups then,” he said.
The DOH is celebrating “Leprosy Week” since last Monday. Leprosy is a skin disease that affects the nerves and causes discoloration and lumps on the skin. In severe cases it results to disfigurement and deformities.
Skin color turns to white or red but it is not itchy nor painful. It can be spread through nasal discharges, coughing or skin to skin contact.
Riveral said leprosy is not fatal and can be cured if detected early. A patient should immediately see a doctor in any Regional Health Units (RHU).
Riveral said leprosy can now be treated at homes instead of in sanitaria. In Cebu, the existing sanitaria is in Eversly Child Sanitarium (ECS).