Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Though experts say Ghana is at the point of eliminating leprosy, 610 new cases were detected last year bringing the total number to 734 throughout the country.

The prevalence rate of the disease stands at 0.36 per 10,000 of the total Ghanaian population. The Greater Accra Region has the least registered cases of 40, with the and Upper East and the Northern Regions recording the highest of 98 and 94 cases, respectively, as at October 2006.

Dr Ekow Amankrah Otabil, National Programme Manager for Leprosy Elimination Programme, announced these when he took his turn at the Ghana Health Service's Monthly Health Promotion Talk in Accra on: "Leprosy".

He said though at the national level, Ghana had achieved the global elimination target of less than 1.0 per 10,000 of the population, "there was more work to be done at the sub-district level". He noted that nationally, the target was to record less than 1.0 per 10,000 of the population by the year 2000 93but we were able to achieve this in 1998 and we have set for ourselves to attain that target at the sub-district level by 2009".

He listed Asante Akim South; Bongo; Bolgatanga; Sene; Lawra; Nadowli; Wa Central; Bole and Twifu Heman Lower Denkyira as the nine endemic districts with prevalence of more than one per 10,000 of the population and called for more efforts to achieve the elimination at the lowest level.

Dr Otabil explained that leprosy was a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium leprae, which mainly affected the skin and peripheral nerves. It also caused considerable disability and deformity.

Leprosy develops as a normal skin rash, which does not itch and does not pain. At its early stages, symptoms include frequent yawning; husky voice; blood in sneeze; loss of eye brows and deformed claws. Dr Otabil also admonished the public to be circumspect and careful in the midst of people since the disease was spread through sneezing and not the physical contact with patients suffering from leprosy. He also cautioned that with the symptoms, it takes 25 years to 30 years before one gets to the advanced stage of disability and deformity, "and that makes it more serious", he said.

He noted that leprosy was curable and treatment was free and urged the public to report any unusual skin rash for immediate treatment, adding, 93Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) effectively reduces the period of transmission. The maximum treatment is twelve months and minimum six months".

Dr Sam Adjei, Deputy Director-General of GHS, who chaired, urged families to welcome back to their homes relatives, who had been cured of their leprosy and not to abandon them in the hospitals.