The National Nutrition Council-Caraga joins in the promotion of Leprosy Prevention and Control Week pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 467 under the auspices of the Department of Health (DOH) in strengthening education and community awareness of leprosy. The observance aims to deepen public awareness of the disease, its prevention, and treatment.

Leprosy is also called Hansen’s disease, caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. Early signs include light patches or patches on the skin with loss of sensation, but more severe symptoms include loss of sensation and numbness in the hands, feet and face. It has been identified in children aged less than 1-year-old to 20 years.  The average is about 4–5 years for tuberculoid leprosy (one or two well-defined lesions), and twice that for lepromatous leprosy (numerous flat or raised, poorly-defined shiny, smooth, symmetrically distributed lesions). cases have been identified in children aged less than 1-year-old.

In order to stop leprosy and its complications, strategies and action plans such as advancement of early case detection through active case-finding (e.g. campaigns), ensuring prompt start and adherence to treatment, including working towards improved treatment regimens, providing assistance in innovative approaches for training, referrals and sustaining expertise in leprosy, and promoting interventions for the prevention of infection and disease.  

In addition, personal hygiene, good nutrition, having enough rest and exercise, keeping the environment clean, and maintaining body resistance through a healthy lifestyle/living should be practiced. 

Furthermore, local governments should ensure political commitment and adequate resources for leprosy programs at all levels, encouragement of partners and assistance of inter-sectoral collaboration internationally, national, and sub national level that will strengthen the reduction of the burden and maintain provision of high-quality leprosy services for all affected communities ensuring that the principle of equity and social justice are followed and further decrease by 50% the identified hyper endemic cities and municipalities relating to the disease. #PNFPJJVCarrillo