Kathmandu. The highest number of new leprosy patients in Nepal have been found in Madhes Province. This was informed by Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Bikash Devkota, during the International Conference on Leprosy in Kathmandu on Thursday.
According to him, Madhes, Lumbini and Koshi Provinces have a high burden of the disease respectively. The highest number of new leprosy patients have been seen in Madhes Province. Madhes Province has more than one-third of the total cases. The second highest number of cases are in Lumbini Province. Where more than a quarter of the total cases are found, said Secretary Dr. Devkota.
He said that out of the 2,472 newly found leprosy patients by the end of the financial year 2080/081, 1,042 were women. He said that the number of new patients under the age of 14 is 136.
He said, ‘To eliminate leprosy, the incidence rate of the disease should be less than one. That is, less than 1 person per 10,000 population should be sick. When analyzing the data of the fiscal year 2080/081, the incidence rate of leprosy at the national level is less than 1, that is, 0.92 percent. But when looking at the incidence rate at the district level, out of 77 districts, 18 districts have more than 1, 48 districts have less than 1, and no new leprosy patients have been found in 11 districts.’
‘Madhes, Lumbini and Koshi provinces have a high burden of the disease, respectively. The highest number of new leprosy patients have been seen in Madhes province. This is more than one-third of the total cases. The second highest number of cases is in Lumbini Province, where more than a quarter of the total cases are patients. Of the 2,472 newly discovered leprosy patients by the end of the fiscal year 2080/081, 1,042 are women and 136 are under the age of 14. Of the new patients, 1,977 have multi-bacillary leprosy, he said.
Secretary Devkota said that all identified leprosy patients are being treated. According to him, the prevalence rate of the disease should be less than one to eliminate leprosy. There should be less than 1 person per 10,000 population with the disease.
When analyzing the data of the financial year 2080/081, the incidence rate of leprosy at the national level is less than 1, 90.92 percent. However, looking at the incidence rate at the district level, out of 77 districts, 18 districts have more than 1, 48 districts have less than 1, and no new leprosy patients have been found in 11 districts. Madhes, Lumbini and Koshi provinces have the highest burden of the disease, respectively.
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