Nouakchott – Mauritania has witnessed a major decline in leprosy instances since because of sustained efforts which have led to enhancements in prevention, detection and therapy. Solely 17 new instances have been recorded in 2023 in contrast with 42 reported in 2010.

Among the many key facets within the nation’s combat in opposition to leprosy – an infectious bacterial illness that primarily impacts the pores and skin, nerves and mucous membranes and might trigger extreme disabilities if not detected early and handled – are prevention, lively case discovering, therapy of issues and combating stigma.

For Mariam*, a resident of Arafat district within the capital of Nouakchott, coping with stigma after being recognized with the illness, which she initially although was a easy pores and skin drawback, has been particularly troublesome, she says. “I used to be shocked by the leprosy prognosis, however I made a decision to remain calm and concentrate on the therapy. The toughest half was dealing with the stigma: the appears to be like and judgements of different folks have been usually too arduous to bear.”

In at-risk communities, particularly low revenue and with restricted entry to well being care, an lively screening system helps in early case detection, growing the probabilities of restoration with out sequelae and curbing the unfold of the illness. “To be efficient, the complete course of the therapy have to be adopted, between 6 and 12 months, relying on the severity of the case. A affected person underneath therapy is now not contagious,” says Dr Salma Yahya, dermatologist and medical officer accountable for diagnosing and treating sufferers with leprosy on the Nationwide Hospital Centre of Nouakchott. 

Within the efforts to lift public consciousness and cut back stigma, well being personnel and group employees insist on the significance of searching for early medical consideration. “We make sure that anybody affected by this illness, wherever they’re, have equal probability to be recognized and handled,” says Dr Elhadj Malick Kane, coordinator of the Nationwide Tuberculosis and Leprosy Management Programme. 

Mauritania eradicated leprosy as a public well being drawback. Because of sustained efforts by the Ministry of Well being with help from World Well being Group (WHO) and companions.

WHO continues to help Mauritania in addressing the specter of leprosy. Greater than 30 well being employees have been skilled in early prognosis and efficient therapy. The Group supplies medicines and helps contact tracing in addition to prognosis and preventive therapy inside households and communities to interrupt transmission. Because of the holistic method that contains therapy, public consciousness drives and monitoring of sufferers has seen therapy completion charge rise to over 90% in 2023.

“Hundreds of sufferers have been cured because of the free therapy. We’re persevering with our efforts to help the nation to attain interruption of transmission and full elimination of leprosy by early detection, efficient therapy and enhanced group consciousness,” says Dr Babacar Dieye, accountable for embody uncared for tropical ailments (NTDs) at WHO in Mauritania. Our help covers all uncared for tropical ailments to strengthen the nation’s well being system and sustainably enhance the standard of lifetime of the populations.”

Mauritania is working in the direction of interrupting transmission and attaining zero instances of leprosy. Combating stigma is a key element in attaining these targets. “Leprosy is usually perceived as a illness that trigger incapacity and plenty of mistakenly imagine that it has been eradicated. This [belief] fuels stigma,” says Dr Yahya. “With consciousness campaigns, the inhabitants understands the illness higher, and this helps to scale back stigma.”

Mauritania has additionally built-in leprosy screening and therapy into its complete NTD management programme. For sufferers, post-treatment monitoring helps to handle issues and cut back the probabilities of recurrence.

“I had month-to-month appointments to test my well being and regulate the therapy if crucial,” says Mariam. My physician at all times answered my questions and reassured me in regards to the therapy and follow-up. The standard of care I obtained was wonderful.”

* Not her actual title.