Ho, March 5, GNA - Mr Anthony Adjavor, Chief Technical Officer of the Ho Leprosarium, on Friday, reported an increase in leprosy cases, in the Volta Region, from 73 in 2009 to 120 in 2010.

He said the situation had presented a challenge to the Disease Control Officers to institute extensive outreaches, to educate the public on the disease. Mr Adjavor was speaking at a ceremony in Ho, when staff of the Armed Forces Pay Office in Accra, presented assorted items to Cured Lepers, livin= g in clusters around the Ho Polyclinic, which was in the past essentially a leper clinic.

He said it was important that individuals reported strange patches and abrasions on their skins to health institutions for examination. Mr Adjavor said there could be people with the disease, who were unknowingly infecting others.

The items presented include bags of maize, rice, cooking oil, detergents, beverages, canned fish, disinfectants, toilet rolls and loaves of bread, estimated at GHC5,000 a cash of GHC500. Lt. Col Anthony Dzisi, Commanding Officer said the overture formed par= t of the Pay Office's corporate social responsibility policy of contributin= g to the needs of the disadvantaged in the society. He said the Unit's activities, which had been concentrated in Accra, was now being decentralized to affect those in the regions as well. The officers and men joined the civilian employees of the Unit on the trip, and together with cured Lepers, danced and made merry after the presentation.

Donors, including some international non-governmental organizations, have over the years, supported the cured lepers with health care facilities and accommodation. Shunned by society, dejected Cured Lepers from across the country, after their discharge, settled on the fringes of the Leprosarium (now Polyclinic) and christened the flagship settlement 93Freetown", which ha= d since expanded into other clusters.