Thousands of years before the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the mycobacterium leprae existed, which is believed to have infected the population of ancient times causing the disease called “leprosy.”
 
Symptoms and effects of leprosy have been reflected and described in the literature of the old civilization according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 
 
Fast forward to 2024, leprosy remains to be one of the public health problems of the world. 
 
Based on WHO's statistics, there are more than 200,000 new cases reported every year. 
 
Although leprosy was already eliminated in the Philippines in 1998, the Department of Health (DOH) reported in 2021 that the country still reports an average of 1,500 to 2,000 new cases from 2008 to 2018. 
 
Said data shows that the local transmission of the disease is still ongoing in the country. 
 
Health experts say leprosy causes the lightening of the skin affected by the bacteria.
 
When left untreated, leprosy leads to deformities and even hand or foot paralysis.
 
As the country observed the Leprosy Prevention and Control Week recently, DOH highlighted the importance of public awareness of said illness. 
 
In an interview during the Kapihan sa Ilocos of the Philippine Information Agency, DOH-Ilocos Center for Health Development shared that lack of knowledge of its symptoms, mode of transmission, and medication and treatment won't help in ending the old-aged problem of leprosy.  
 
At times, due to the lack of knowledge about the disease, some people tend to exhibit problematic behavior leading to more concerns. 
 
Symptoms and effects of leprosy are visible to our naked eye.
 
As such, people avoid contact with leprosy patients and sometimes give not-so-nice impressions when seeing deformities caused by the illness.
 
Individuals suffering from leprosy are often isolated, excluded from the circle, and stigmatized.
 
According to Medical Officer IV Rheuel Bobis of the DOH-CHD 1, leprosy is curable and may be infectious but not highly contagious.
 
“Leprosy is not transmitted by merely having skin-to-skin contact and not within a short or one-time encounter,” Bobis said.
 
He added, “Its transmission is through respiratory droplets and prolonged exposure of maybe a year or more.”
 
More than the feeling of shame and isolation, the stigma and discrimination steal the leprosy patients’ chance to overcome the disease.
 
Stigma and discrimination hinder the patients from going out and seeking help and treatment thus, delay or stop their access to proper medical care.
 
DOH calls for people's compassion and understanding. 
  
Leprosy patients need moral support to push them to undergo the cycle of medication through the leprosy care services of the government.
 
Multi-drug therapy (MTD) is free and available in rural health units, city health offices, and public hospitals.
 
“Similar to the treatment of tuberculosis, they just need to complete the series of treatments to get rid of the bacteria,” Bobis said.
 
For them to be able to visit the facilities and fully avail of the MTD, we have to break first the barrier we have created. 
 
People's judgment will not help in their healing. 
 
What we need to do is open our eyes and extend our hands to empower them to seek and maximize healthcare services.   
 
More so, empower ourselves and help raise awareness because it is only with proper education and a compassionate heart that we can possibly put an end to this old-aged health problem. (JCR/AMB/CGCC, PIA Region 1)