The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Center (NTLCP) has targeted 21,000 persons for the ‘prevention and treatment’ of leprosy in six states of the country. The leprosy affected persons were identified during the preventive campaigns in Bauchi, Niger, Jigawa, Kebbi, Cross River and Ebonyi states. This was disclosed at the weekend by the Director General of the Leprosy Control Centre, Dr. Tahir Dahiru, while inaugurating the programme at Misau, Bauchi state,
He said the National Leprosy Control Programme tagged: “Ready 4PEP project,” was to administer suspected leprosy persons with a single dose rifampicin post exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP). According to him, administering of single dose is under the 4PEP project across the six affected states. He added that the leprosy control project was a four-year pilot programme being executed by the centre. “The leprosy control and treatment project focuses at tracing social and family contact with patients,” he said, adding that while old and new confirmed cases would receive the SDR-PEP treatment.
He explained that the treatment is in single dose targeted at social and family contacts of confirmed leprosy patients in six states. An NTLCP official, Umman Bassey also said that the SDR-PEP was a strategy towards achieving zero leprosy infection, disease and disability. In his response, the Emir of Misau, Suleiman Ahmed lauded the Federal Government’s efforts to treat and prevent leprosy in the country.
