Leprosy: Why one of di oldest sickness wey dey affect humans still be threat

When dem diagnose Tinasoa Rakotoarimanana with leprosy two years ago, e no be so much shock say the disease fit catch her — na to accept wetin dey front her.

The young woman wey dey 24 then think say the red patches for her face no be anything. E only when her fingers begin go numb she decide to see doctor.

When she waka go local hospital for Miarinarivo township for central Madagascar, her worst fears show for ground. Tests confirm say she get leprosy, sickness wey she bin think say belong another world.

"I cry. E feel like my life don stop," Tinasoa tell TRT Afrika about that terrible moment when doctor explain wetin her small symptoms mean. "I fear say nobody go want to stay with me again."

Na so e be — as the news spread for her community say she get leprosy, Tinasoa feel the full force of the stigma wey dey the disease.

Friends stop to visit. Invitations comot.

"Some people for my village think say leprosy dey run for family. Others call am curse. Truth be say, nobody for my family ever get the disease before," she say.

For another side of town, 32-year-old Solo Andrianirina face similar wahala wen e hear say e get leprosy.

"I fear well well. For me leprosy na sickness from past wey I no get connection with. Now dem tell me say e don enter my body, I immediately think of exclusion and shame," he tell TRT Afrika.

Old sickness, modern cure

Leprosy na bacterial infection wey dey affect skin and nerves. If person no treat am, e fit cause irreversible nerve damage, disability and disfigurement.

Even though na one of di oldest sickness wey dem record for human history, for medical side leprosy no be global public health problem again because treatment don improve. Most cases dey fully curable with multi-drug therapy wey many places dey give free.

But the success of modern medicine never finish the fear and how people dey see leprosy.

Stigma still dey make patients go isolate themselves, e dey cost dem job and education, and sometimes family fit reject dem.

"My family don supportive but some friends don start to distance themselves," Solo say. "Some still think say na contagious and dem go get leprosy if dem touch me. E pain, but I sabi say na lack of information dey cause am."

"My mother stay by my side but other people avoid me. Dem tell me make I no come gatherings. I feel humiliated. Today, I know say na curable disease, and I want others to understand that too," Tinasoa say.

Silence and social burden

For countries wey leprosy still dey, the social burden of the disease dey discourage early diagnosis, so symptoms fit get worse and transmission fit continue.

The World Health Organization (WHO), wey dey mark World Leprosy Day every last Sunday of January to tackle stigma and show medical progress, believe say even though the disease easy to treat, fear and prejudice still dey strong obstacle.

This year theme — "Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma" — show why leprosy still dey important public health matter even after decades of progress.

Based on WHO data, 21,043 new cases dem detect for Africa in 2023, wey be 11.5% of global burden.

Most countries don reach formal elimination of leprosy as public health problem, wetin dem measure as prevalence below one case per 10,000 people.

For Africa, still get pockets wey transmission dey, especially for Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.

Although prevalence and detection rates dey go down, ongoing transmission, late diagnosis and related disabilities still dey report for these countries. For 2023, more than 3,000 new cases for the continent get Grade 2 disability, wey show say detection late.

Wrong belief dey fuel bias

Strangely, because leprosy rare, e dey add to the stigma wey follow the disease.

Plenty patients prefer hide their symptoms than face discrimination wey ignorance dey cause. Dem fear the label pass to look for help.

Leprosy spread through airborne bacteria for tiny droplets when infected person cough or sneeze — no be by touch. Handshake, hug, share food or sit beside person no dey cause leprosy. Over 95% of people get natural immunity.

WHO don run campaigns show say leprosy less contagious than tuberculosis, COVID-19 or measles. Once treatment start, patients quick stop to be transmission risk. But fear of stigma dey make many no go seek help, and that one lead to long-term complications and continued spread.

Tinasoa and Solo don recover. Now dem want make other people know wetin dem no sabi when leprosy interrupt their lives.