Despite Nigeria Received a new shipment of leprosy drugs, Kano State is yet to benefit, leaving thousands of patients in danger of irreversible nerve damage and deformities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the drugs will arrived in Nigeria on March 9, after a year-long delay caused by new regulations and testing policies .
The country, which reports more than 2,000 new cases a year ran out of supplies partly because drugs were held up after new regulations were introduced.
According to Dr,Sulaiman Musa Kofa, Kano State TB and leprosy Control programme officer said,the State, which reports a significant number of leprosy cases, is still waiting for the drugs to arrive.
Aminci Radio discover that Leprosy patients in Kano are struggling to access treatment, and many are being forced to live with the debilitating consequences of the disease.
However the delay in receiving the drugs has led to a significant increase in the number of leprosy cases in Kano, with many patients experiencing severe symptoms, including clawed fingers, leg ulcers, and irreversible nerve damage.
The lack of treatment has also increased the risk of transmission, as the bacteria that cause leprosy can spread easily if left untreated.
According to Dr. Kofa,the State has received a shipment of drugs to combat tropical diseases, including tuberculosis.
“This development is expected to boost the state’s efforts in controlling the spread of TB, which has been a significant public health concern in the state.” He says
Dr Kofa emphasized the arrival of these drugs as welcome relief especially considering that Kano experiencing higher cases ,these drugs is expected to help achieved the goal.