Missing Data & Inefficient Drug Distribution Tops List of Micronesia ’s Leprosy Challenges

Dexter, a 25-year-old fisherman from Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, received treatment for Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy, for over a year. He has been cured of the disease. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS By Stella PaulPOHNPEI, Apr 8 2019 (IPS) It’s a good day for Dexter, a 25-year-old fisherman from Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. He’s just been told that he is cured of leprosy. “I have been sitting at home for nearly a year now,” Dexter, who doesn’t want to reveal his last name, tells IPS. “But now I can finally return to my job,” he says with a smile. However, not every patient in Pohnpei State may be as fortunate as Dexter. The region is grappling with a shortage of leprosy drugs. Multidrug therapy (MDT) is provided for free by Novartis, through the World Health Organisation (WHO) and distributed across the globe. But Pohnpei has to send through an application for new stock to the national government. “We have not received any fresh supply of drugs this year, so we are giving what we have in our stock although they are now expired,” reveals Dr. Elizabeth Keller. She is the acting chief of Pohnpei State’s Department of Health Services and also heads the region’s leprosy programme. Pohnpei State has the largest number of leprosy cases in the country—nearly 100 new cases are reported here every year. And Micronesia still remains one of three Pacific island nations, along with the Marshall Islands and Kiribati, that ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Aid Asia-Pacific Development & Aid Featured Headlines Health Human Rights Regional Categories TerraViva United Nations Hansen's disease leprosy Nippon Foundation Sasakawa Health Foundation Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation (SMH Source Type: news