"It is so very sad to see children
with deforming leprosy"
- Dr. Margaret Purcell, volunteer 2008
Virtually eradicated elsewhere in PNG, leprosy is still a serious problem in Western Province.
The success of treatment programs worldwide is proof that this ancient curse can be lifted; all it takes is rigorous application of existing treatments.
ADI's leprosy patrols travel the mighty Fly River to organise and distribute vital medicine to a group of 31 leprosy patients - three from a single family - in three isolated villages of Bosset, Mipam and Aimbak.
Travelling there requires 14 hours in a dinghy and the patrol lasts 10 days.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.
Today it is relatively easy to diagnose and treat leprosy, but because the Fly River villages are so remote and the local bureaucracy so complex, it is very time consuming and costly to deliver drugs there.
ADI's doctors ensure the proper paperwork reaches Port Moresby, as well as lobby the National Department of Heath to get the appropriate drugs on a more regular basis. Leprosy was a major topic at the ADI 2009 in-service health training.
In 2009/2010 SMEC Foundation will fund two leprosy patrols.
Further information about leprosy
- World Health Organisation website
- Leprosy Mission Australia website
- Report of the Ninth Meeting of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Leprosy Control (2008) report
- Global leprosy situation by WHO (2007) report
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