According to him, mistaken beliefs about the disease, such as it is highly contagious, hereditary, heaven’s punishment and so on, negatively affects sufferers even after they are cured.
Reiterating that leprosy is curable and treatment is free, he added that as part of efforts to eliminate the disease in the endemic states of the country namely Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Bauchi, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Edo, Ogun, Osun and Lagos, his ministry launched a five year National Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Strategic Plan in 2016.The plan facilitates the implementation of appropriate strategies to increase case detection, improve treatment outcome, prevent disabilities and provide rehabilitation services to affected persons.
