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Luanda, 5 August 2006 -- The WHO Goodwill Ambassador for the Leprosy Elimination, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, has promised to support the current efforts to fight the disease in Africa, and invited the countries of the region to submit plans and resource requirements for this purpose.
"We will continue to provide financial support for the elimination of leprosy in Africa", Mr. Sasakawa pledged at the end of a five-day visit to Angola.
He was accompanied on the visit, which was at the invitation of the Angolan government, by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo.
Although Angola reached the goal of the leprosy elimination in December 2005 by attaining a rate of 0,93 cases per 10,000 inhabitants, the disease remains endemic in six out of the country’s 18 provinces (namely in Bengo, Kuando kubango, Kuanza Sul, Lunda Sul, Moxico and Uíge).
"Since 2005 the country has reported only 1,800 cases, less 64% than the number of cases reported in 2003 and the prevalence rate decreased from 3.54 cases per one thousand inhabitants to 0.93 cases in only two years”, said the National Programme Manager for Leprosy, Dr. Conceição Palma. To consolidate these results, the Angolan Ministry of Health on 3 August unveiled a US$608,000 National Strategic Plan for leprosy control for the 2007-2009 biennium.
In a meeting with Dr Sambo, Mr. Sasakawa noted that India, one of the most populated countries in the world that has eliminated leprosy, and gave the assurance that more attention would now be paid to African countries."
In his remarks, the WHO Regional Director paid tribute to Mr Sasakawa for the work he had done for the leprosy elimination in Africa and elsewhere around the world. "Thanks to his support, advocacy and funding, the African region has achieved significant progress in leprosy elimination in the last ten years. We are satisfied with these results; however they we could work faster to achieve the better results", Dr. Sambo said.
Current statistics indicate that Africa is the third most affected region in the world, with 12 per cent of leprosy cases (43,587). The Southeastern Asian is the highest with 72%; followed by Latin America with 13%.
In further comments, Dr Sambo stressed the need for the African countries to adopt strategies for the post elimination phase, including some priority activities such as the epidemiological surveillance, the treatment of the new leprosy cases that could be detected and rehabilitation of former leprosy patients.
"Leprosy elimination in Angola is a very historical issue. When I was here in 2003 for the first time, I never expected that Angola could eliminate the disease the leprosy in only five years and this is an award for all the Angola people, and for the WHO Regional Director, in particular”, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa said, before leaving Angola for a similar visit to neighbouring Mozambique.
"Leprosy is not a God’s punishment, as was often said in ancient times. The drugs are free and the people affected by leprosy should not to be discriminated against; their human rights should also be protected. It is important that all the people have a correct knowledge of this disease”, he also stressed.
Earlier, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador met with the acting Head of State, Mr. Roberto de Almeida (who is also President of the Parliament), the Minister of the Health, Dr. Sebastião Veloso, the Vice Minister for the Public health, Dr Jose Van-Dúnem, Directors in the Ministry of Health, and with partners involved in the fight against this disease.
Before departing Angola, the Nippon delegation visited a community Center for rehabilitation of former leprosy patients, located in Funda, near by Luanda where 33 families are involved in activities such as carpentry, shoe making, agriculture and trading with support of leprosy associations, public and private trade companies.
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