IRIN examines rise in new leprosy cases in remote region of Madagascar

IRIN examines an increase in new leprosy cases in Antalaha, a once-prosperous vanilla-exporting town in a remote region of Madagascar, where a 2009 military-supported coup brought the suspension of some foreign aid and trade benefits. The news service writes, "While people are becoming poorer and more susceptible to illness, the public health care system is receiving less money from the government."

"Six to 12 months of treatment with multidrug therapy -- a combination of two antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory (medicines that WHO distributes for free) -- stops the disease from spreading, but there are other obstacles to overcome," the news service reports, such as a declaration by Malagasy authorities in 2010 that leprosy had been eradicated from the country; the country's tropical climate, which makes diagnosing the illness difficult because it causes many dermatological problems; the fact that many leprosy patients need care for the rest of their lives; and the need for bandages to dress wounds, which are often lacking in health centers (9/26).


    http://www.kaiserhealthnews.orgThis article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

    Comments

    The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
    Post a new comment
    Post

    While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

    Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

    Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

    Read the full Terms & Conditions.

    You might also like...
    Digital avatars may ease distress from troubling voices in psychosis