HELP!!! LEPROSY AN OVERLOOKED DESTROYER

A beggar Incapacitated by Leprosy

Leprosy is a deadly disease which has a devastating effect that has been down played in level of awareness and media campaign.  Is this because it has been regarded as a disease of the poor and beggars? 

Actually i did my research and discovered that the disease does not attack the beggars. It attacks people and turns them to beggars because of stigmatization and decapitation of their limbs and some vital parts.

WHAT IS LEPROSY? 

The World Health Organization has this to tell us; 
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus.
The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes, apart from some other structures. Leprosy has afflicted humanity since time immemorial. It once affected every continent and it has left behind a terrifying image in history and human memory - of mutilation, rejection and exclusion from society.

A Leprous Hand 

A mutilated Leprous patient

 


In Nigeria leprosy is known in every tongue and language. 

Igbo: Ekpenta
Yoruba: Ete
Hausa: Kuturta
Ibibio: Akpa nfia



MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

In reality, the disease is brutal and can affect anyone and anything including the walls of an infected man's house, clothing and mattress, but the truth is that the contagious nature of the disease has been over hyped and many other sicknesses are far more communicable and contactable than leprosy. 

Online medical blog webmd has this to say concerning contacting leprosy  "Leprosy is actually not that contagious. You can catch it only if you come into close and repeated contact with nose and mouth droplets from someone with untreated leprosy. Children are more likely to get leprosy than adults"


Religious teachings have aided the fear of leprosy and the stigma of the lepros over the years.

Dr. Alan Gillen asserts that  "Leprosy had been considered a curse from God or (the gods) which did not come to kill but lingered for many years to maim and deform sinners and offenders".

In the Christian Bible, The term “leprosy” (including leper, lepers, leprosy, leprous) occurs 68 times in the Bible—55 times in the Old Testament (Hebrew = tsara’ath) and 13 times in the New Testament (Greek = lepros, lepra)

The Prophet of Islam speaking said: “Run away from the leper same as you would from a lion.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5707) and Sahîh Muslim (2220)]. 

He also said: “The person who has a contagious disease should not approach a healthy person.” [Sahîh Muslim (2221)] 

In fact, Islam preceded modern societies (But Not Judaism) by establishing the idea of quarantines. Prophet Muhammed Further  said: “If you heart that a land has been stricken by plague, do not approach it, and if your land is stricken by plague, do not leave it”. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5728)].

The Taoist, Hindu and other ancient religions share the same thought on this matter.

NOW YOU KNOW

You should:

• Avoid close and prolonged contacts with a leprous person
• Vaccinate your children against leprosy
• Help Educate people on leprosy
• Encourage personal hygiene and self care always
• Give to a leper or a cured victim of leprosy. (its not easy living without body parts
• Seek early medical attention when u see Symptoms of Leprosy

• 

  Give to a leper or a cured victim when you can

You Should Never

• Give in to undue fear about leprosy
•  Stigmatize a leper or a past victim
• Be careless when dealing with lepers

Not satisfied? Need more info? visit  WHO site and many other online resources.

Your comments and contribution are highly appreciated.