The Zamfara State chapter of the Association of People affected by leprosy has cried out over the stigmatization of its members.
Addressing newsmen at his office in Gusau, the State capital, the chairman of the Association, Shehu Abdulahi S/Fada lamented that people of the state were avoiding people affected by leprosy.
He demanded that the people affected by leprosy and other forms of deformities should be included in the system, adding that they should be given equal treatment.
“I was affected by leprosy when I was in primary school until I finished my higher Institution, people were still avoiding me because I was a leper”, he added.
“Before I was cured, I suffered serious humiliation which was so perplexing, embarrassing and worrisome to me.”
Speaking further, he explained that the leprosy clinic in Gusau, the State capital, has many challenges, saying that the clinic needs total renovation and expansion.
He appealed to the State government to urgently come to the aid of people living with leprosy by renovating and expanding the clinic.
He stressed that leprosy is not inherited and is curable, pointing out that the drugs and other assistance were being donated by Leprosy Missions in Nigeria and other international donors in collaboration with the Federal and State governments.
