KARACHI, June 11: Leprosy is on the rise in the country, as 800 people are being affected by the disease, every year, with more than 50,000 patients already suffering from it in Pakistan.

It was pointed out by advisor on Leprosy at Health ministry and chairman of the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre, Dr Ruth Fao, at a meeting held on Friday to review progress on the prevention of this disease and to meet its treatment and diagnosis expenses, which were beyond the financial means of a majority of the poor patients.

Dr Fao said that 3,000 patients had been cured after receiving treatment at the MALC, which was striving for the last 45 years to eradicate leprosy from the country by treating patients and providing training facilities to medical professionals.

"All financial support to the MALC was given by Germany till now, but we need Rs120 million yearly to offer health care and training services and other related activities to prevent the disease, countrywide," she added.

She observed that the leprosy virus was similar to that of tuberculosis (TB) virus, but it could be cured within six months, if diagnosed at an early stage, and if this virus moved into blood, then it needed two years to be cured.

"Leprosy is totally curable disease," she said and emphasised on concerted efforts to eradicate it, besides TB and blindness. Director, Afroze Chemicals, Abdullah Feroz, informed the meeting that necessary funding would be provided to the MALC and a drive to create awareness among masses about the disease and for fund raising would be launched and different programmes would also be organized shortly with the help of various trade organizations in this regard.

"It is our responsibility to extend full cooperation to the treatment of poor and needy patients," he said, lauding Dr Fao's social services. A programme was also finalized for prevention, eradication and treatment of such diseases and making communication with donors in the public and private sectors for the purpose.

The meeting was attended by TCS chief executive Jamil Janjoa, BBCL chief Pervaiz Iqbal, National Forum on Environment and Health president Dr Ashfaq Ali, besides Saleem Mughal of Urdu varsity and NIPA Chief Instructor Abu Ahmed Akif. -PPI