Leprosy Detection With a Personal Touch

Coalition of Leprosy Associations of the Philippines (CLAP) community outreach organisers Jennifer Quimno (left) and Michelle Ann Oreo (right). Credit: Ben Kritz/IPSBy Ben KritzMANILA, Mar 3 2019 (IPS)Jennifer Quimno could put anyone at ease. So when she travels across the Philippines as part of peer to peer programme that helps identify new leprosy cases, people generally allow her to examine them.“We met a young boy, about 16 years of age, who had symptoms of leprosy, and we needed to examine and send pictures of his skin rashes to the doctors for diagnosis,” Quimno told IPS. Quimno, herself a former leprosy patient, was able to put the teenager at ease. “One of his rashes was on his buttocks. He was a little embarrassed to show it at first, but when I asked him nicely, he let us take a look.”That unique sensitivity toward persons affected by leprosy is a valuable resource in identifying new cases and encouraging patients to seek treatment, Frank Onde, the president of the Coalition of Leprosy Advocates of the Philippines (CLAP) explained.“Strengthening the participation of persons affected by leprosy is the most effective way to reduce the burden on government health departments,” explained Onde, one of the keynote speakers at the Regional Assembly of Organisations of People Affected by Leprosy in Asia. The assembly is being held in Manila, Philippines, Mar. 3 to 5.Helping their ownUnder the programme organised by CLAP, former patients are trained in community ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Active Citizens Aid Asia-Pacific Conferences Development & Aid Featured Headlines Health Human Rights Regional Categories TerraViva United Nations leprosy Nippon Foundation Philippines Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation (SMHF) Source Type: news